Yolanda Adams

Yolanda Adams is a candidate for the Watauga County Board of Education District 01 in the November 3 2026 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 ⁴. The Board of Education governs the county’s public schools, adopting policies, approving the district budget, and overseeing the superintendent and school operations ¹¹.

A lifelong resident of Boone, North Carolina, Adams has built her career around bridging language and cultural gaps for the county’s growing Hispanic community. For ten years she worked as a Family Resource Coordinator and Spanish‑language interpreter for Watauga County Schools, providing translation services, helping families navigate special‑education processes, and acting as a first‑line point of contact for parents in need ⁴¹¹. Her dedication earned her the district’s Servant’s Heart Award in 2023 ¹¹ and recognition at a surprise community celebration in December 2022 ⁴.

Beyond her school‑system duties, Adams co‑founded Q’Pasa Appalachia, a Spanish‑language news page and community resource, and volunteers with the Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative. She has led and designed programs such as the “Juntos” partnership, which connects organizations to support Latinx students and parents, and “Semillas,” an early‑childhood outreach that educates kindergarten‑through‑third‑grade parents about the U.S. education system and pathways to higher education ⁸. Her work incorporates a trauma‑informed approach to address the mental‑health needs of Latinx youth.

In May 2022, Governor Roy Cooper 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 ⁵. The same year she received the Baker/Jones Woman of the Year Award from the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 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 ⁸.

Adams serves on several education‑related boards, including the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s advisory council, extending her influence to state‑level policy discussions 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‑12 families into higher‑education pathways ⁴.

As 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‑based program development, and statewide policy involvement demonstrates a long‑standing commitment to educational equity for all Watauga County students.

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