A member of the Republican Party, Truitt previously served as senior advisor on education to North Carolina governor Pat McCrory from 2015 to 2017.

[2] According to Truitt, her husband Jeff's role in the U.S. Navy Reserves resulted in frequent moves, and she taught in a variety of locations, including at West Johnston High School in Benson, North Carolina from 2009 to 2012.

In his announcement, McCrory said that Truitt's selection would "help us to build on the progress we’ve made to ensure every North Carolina student is equipped with the skills they need to begin a career or further their education.

[3] Truitt received an offer in 2017 to serve as chancellor of a new North Carolina affiliate of the online college Western Governors University.

[7] Johnson announced his bid for lieutenant governor in November 2019,[8] and Truitt subsequently entered the race for state superintendent.