{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Yolanda Adams","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"Yolanda Adams is a candidate for the Watauga County Board of Education District\u202f01 in the November\u202f3\u202f2026 election.  She currently serves as the Assistant Director for Student Leadership and Parent Outreach at Appalachian State University, a role she assumed after a decade of service in the Watauga County School System\u202f[4].  The Board of Education governs the county\u2019s public schools, adopting policies, approving the district budget, and overseeing the superintendent and school operations\u202f[11].\n\nA lifelong resident of Boone, North\u202fCarolina, Adams has built her career around bridging language and cultural gaps for the county\u2019s growing Hispanic community.  For ten years she worked as a Family Resource Coordinator and Spanish\u2011language interpreter for Watauga County Schools, providing translation services, helping families navigate special\u2011education processes, and acting as a first\u2011line point of contact for parents in need\u202f[4][11].  Her dedication earned her the district\u2019s Servant\u2019s Heart Award in 2023\u202f[11] and recognition at a surprise community celebration in December\u202f2022\u202f[4].\n\nBeyond her school\u2011system duties, Adams co\u2011founded Q\u2019Pasa Appalachia, a Spanish\u2011language news page and community resource, and volunteers with the Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative.  She has led and designed programs such as the \u201cJuntos\u201d partnership, which connects organizations to support Latinx students and parents, and \u201cSemillas,\u201d an early\u2011childhood outreach that educates kindergarten\u2011through\u2011third\u2011grade parents about the U.S. education system and pathways to higher education\u202f[8].  Her work incorporates a trauma\u2011informed approach to address the mental\u2011health needs of Latinx youth.\n\nIn May\u202f2022, Governor Roy\u202fCooper appointed Adams to the Task Force to Develop a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education, recognizing her expertise as a family resource professional and community advocate\u202f[5].  The same year she received the Baker/Jones Woman of the Year Award from the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce\u202f[5].  Adams also participated in the LatinxEd Fellowship, a statewide program that cultivates Latinx educational leadership, where she collaborated with peers to share best practices and policy insights\u202f[8].\n\nAdams serves on several education\u2011related boards, including the North\u202fCarolina Department of Public Instruction\u2019s advisory council, extending her influence to state\u2011level policy discussions\u202f[4].  Her upcoming role at Appalachian State University will focus on student leadership development and parent outreach, positioning her to further support the transition of K\u201112 families into higher\u2011education pathways\u202f[4].\n\nAs a Board of Education candidate, Adams emphasizes continued advocacy for multilingual families, equitable access to resources, and culturally responsive curricula.  Her record of translation services, community\u2011based program development, and statewide policy involvement demonstrates a long\u2011standing commitment to educational equity for all Watauga County students.\n\n## Sources\n- [4] [Yolanda Adams honored for work, community outreach | Local News | wataugademocrat.com](https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/local/yolanda-adams-honored-for-work-community-outreach/article_2df16d86-9387-11ee-8a20-b7c4ded65b45.html)\n- [5] [Governor Cooper appoints Yolanda Adams to task force - WataugaOnline.com](https://wataugaonline.com/governor-cooper-appoints-yolanda-adams-to-task-force/)\n- [8] [Education leader, advocate participates in LatinxEd fellowship | News | wataugademocrat.com](https://www.wataugademocrat.com/mountaintimes/news/education-leader-advocate-participates-in-latinxed-fellowship/article_7f1bb2e8-dc07-52bc-8109-1e731bb0a9b8.html)\n- [11] [Watauga County Schools staff, faculty recognized at March meeting | Community | wataugademocrat.com](https://www.wataugademocrat.com/community/watauga-county-schools-staff-faculty-recognized-at-march-meeting/article_86aded18-cc60-51d7-b301-604bb2960465.html)","firstname":"Yolanda","lastname":"Adams","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"33f0ac6ec520fd8b"},"token":"tgk0OpD4UGjRrt9y"},{"candidatename":"Ellen Lamont","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"Ellen Claire Lamont is a candidate for the nonpartisan Watauga County Board of Education District\u202f1 seat in the 2026 primary election. The district race is listed as nonpartisan on the county\u2019s primary ballot, and the top two vote\u2011getters will advance to the November general election ballot\u202f[12][10].\n\nLamont, a Watauga County resident, says she is running to protect public schools as a public good and to ensure they serve a healthy democracy. She emphasizes the need for livable teacher wages, teacher autonomy, evidence\u2011based curricula, and increased state funding for local schools\u202f[10]. Her platform also calls for inclusive schools where all students can thrive.\n\nThe Board of Education in Watauga County is responsible for setting policy, approving budgets, and overseeing the operation of public schools. Lamont\u2019s stated priorities\u2014defending evidence\u2011based education, advocating for higher teacher pay, and securing additional state funding\u2014reflect the core duties of board members to guide curriculum decisions, manage resources, and support staff\u202f[10].\n\nIn the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 primary, Lamont was projected to win the nonpartisan nomination with 57.32\u202f% of the vote, making her one of the two candidates who will appear on the November ballot\u202f[11].\n\nNo campaign website or official contact information was found in the available sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Watauga County, North Carolina, elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Watauga_County,_North_Carolina,_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [5] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [6] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [7] [2026 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina)\n- [8] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [10] [2026 Primary Voter Guide: Watauga County Board of Education District 1 | Local News | wataugademocrat.com](https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/local/2026-primary-voter-guide-watauga-county-board-of-education-district-1/article_1e67e9b8-cfc0-462a-bb8c-b81c2554a2cb.html)\n- [11] [Unofficial results for the 2026 primary election \u2013 The Appalachian](https://theappalachianonline.com/unofficial-results-for-the-2026-primary-election/)\n- [12] [Polls open Tuesday for 2026 primary election across the High Country - WataugaOnline.com](https://wataugaonline.com/polls-open-tuesday-for-2026-primary-election-across-the-high-country/)","firstname":"Ellen","lastname":"Lamont","middlename":"Claire","suffix":null,"token":"3e0d7f59baf6add5"},"token":"nhFfKuRCRQ8C-AHC"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board","office":"county_school_board","officedescription":"A school board member serves on the elected body that governs a public school district. The board sets district policy and budget priorities and hires and evaluates the superintendent, while leaving day-to-day management to the administration.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment for a public school district \u2014 setting direction while leaving day-to-day management to the superintendent.\n- Budget literacy for operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the county commission (which appropriates) and the state.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 the board's highest-stakes recurring decision.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County School Board Member","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Watauga County Board Of Education District 01"}