Calbreath discusses bullying, transparency in school board race ...

Wes Calbreath grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and attended Appalachian State University.

Wes is a program coordinator for the GEAR UP program at Appalachian State University. He works at Appalachian State University, where he supports school systems in 17 counties along the Tennessee border, including Ashe County. He previously worked as a teacher in kindergarten, second grade and middle school English; as a math facilitator twice; as a school counselor for 12 years in K-5, K-8 and 9-12 schools; and as a district specialist in student behavior.

Wes is a program coordinator at Appalachian State University, where he supports school systems in 17 counties, including Ashe County. He previously worked as a teacher, math facilitator, school counselor, and district specialist in student behavior.

As of January 2, 2026, Wes Calbreath did not have a website or any information online.

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

For Candidate Wes Calbreath on Issue school-curriculum: Supports building essential skills alongside traditional subjects, including adaptability, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, empathy, and personal responsibility, as identified by the business community.

Supports expanding curriculum to include career readiness skills.

- Supports expanding curriculum to include career readiness skills.

School Curriculum

For Candidate Wes Calbreath on Issue student-wellbeing: Believes in addressing bullying and ensuring a secure environment for students.

Believes in addressing bullying and ensuring a secure environment for students.

- Believes in addressing bullying and ensuring a secure environment for students.

Student Wellbeing

Wes Calbreath

Wes Calbreath grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and attended Appalachian State University on a Teaching Fellows Scholarship. Wes describes himself as a "conservative by nature" and follows Christian teachings in his personal life.

- For Candidate Wes Calbreath on Issue school-curriculum: Supports building essential skills alongside traditional subjects, including adaptability, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, empathy, and personal responsibility, as identified by the business community.

- For Candidate Wes Calbreath on Issue student-wellbeing: Believes in addressing bullying and ensuring a secure environment for students.

As of January 2, 2026, Wes Calbreath’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Buket Urgen

Dianne Eldreth

As of January 2, 2026, Dianne Eldreth’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Dianne Eldreth graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Ashe County

School board candidates share their views on a wide variety of topics 

Dianne is retired. She previously was a teacher at Blue Ridge Elementary School and Ashe County Schools.

11/08/2022 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - ASHE

Dianne currently serves on the Ashe County Board of Education. She was first elected in 2018 and is in her second term.

K-12 Education Legislative Update - Friday, March 8, 2024

Supported fully funding public schools, ensuring teachers and school staff are treated with dignity and respect, and creating an educational system where kids can be authentic and grow.

Supported use of grant to fund new middle school project to deal with overcrowding and provide amenities for students like air conditioning and an auditorium.

- Supported fully funding public schools, ensuring teachers and school staff are treated with dignity and respect, and creating an educational system where kids can be authentic and grow.
- Supported use of grant to fund new middle school project to deal with overcrowding and provide amenities for students like air conditioning and an auditorium.

As of January 2, 2026, Dianne Eldreth did not have a website or any information online.

Supported salary scale for non-certified staff and planned to find ways to keep teacher pay in line nationally.

- Supported salary scale for non-certified staff and planned to find ways to keep teacher pay in line nationally.

Supported more reliance on technology in school to keep students ahead of an ever-changing world.

Supported teaching sex education, bullying prevention, and cyber safety in schools.

- Supported more reliance on technology in school to keep students ahead of an ever-changing world.
- Supported teaching sex education, bullying prevention, and cyber safety in schools.

Supported providing "emotional and social supports" after isolation during remote learning.

- Supported providing "emotional and social supports" after isolation during remote learning.

Ashe County Public Schools

Janet currently serves as a member of the Ashe County Board of Education. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Janet Ward did not have a website or any information online.

Janet Ward

As of January 2, 2026, Janet Ward’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Shane E. Little

Shane E. Little's campaign for Ashe County Board of Education member is his first time running for public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Shane E. Little’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Style Depot

Shane E. Little pursued a lifelong dream of becoming a hairstylist at the age of 33, after wanting to enter the profession since he was 13 years old. He is known for serving multi-generational families in his community.

Shane is a salon owner and a North Carolina licensed cosmetology instructor. He is a Keune Regional Artisan and a member of the G.A.T.E. Team, where he leads and attends workshops for cosmetology professionals. His professional training includes the Atlanta Academy and specialized cut classes in Denver, Atlanta, and Charlotte.

Candidates - Ashe County

As of January 2, 2026, Shane E. Little did not have a website or any information online.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 