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Carrie McClain has bachelor's degree in comparative literature from Northwestern University and a master's degree in divinity from North Park Theological Seminary.

Carrie is the CEO of Hart-T-Tree Farms, a tree farming business in Ashe County. She also owns Little Saps, where she grows and supplies saplings for planting.

Questionnaire Responses – Carrie McClain

Year in Review: Agriculture's economic growth continues by the ...

Primary ballot set with contested local races - Watauga Democrat

Carrie is the chief executive officer of Hart-T-Tree Farms, a tree farming business in Ashe County. She also owns Little Saps, where she grows and supplies saplings for planting.

Carrie McClain - Ballotpedia

Carrie's campaign for Watauga County Schools board, District 1 is her first run for public office.

Opposes reducing funding for public schools.

- Opposes reducing funding for public schools.

School Facilities & Resources

Opposes using public funds for private and charter schools.

Opposes programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.

- Opposes programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.

Access to Education

Believes the most significant challenge facing the school system is the recruitment and retention of teachers and staff.

Believes the most significant challenge facing the school system "is the recruitment and retention of teachers and staff."

Supports competitive compensation for teachers and school staff.

- Believes the most significant challenge facing the school system "is the recruitment and retention of teachers and staff."
- Supports competitive compensation for teachers and school staff.

Teachers

Opposes book bans and supports allowing teachers and school administrators to select age-appropriate materials for students.

- Opposes book bans and supports allowing teachers and school administrators to select age-appropriate materials for students.

School Curriculum

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

Student Wellbeing

Carrie McClain

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

Matthew Tomas

Buket Urgen

Ellen Lamont PhD

Ellen Lamont holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from New York University.

Ellen is a sociology professor at Appalachian State University.

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

Ellen Lamont

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

Yolanda Adams is from Bogotá, Colombia. She has an associate's degree in business administration from Broward Community College. She lives in Boone with her husband, Jay, and their four children.

Impact | Office of Rural Promise

Yolanda Adams - Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

Yolanda is a family resource coordinator for Watauga County Schools.

NC school district addresses broadband gap - EdNC

Yolanda currently works as an assistant director for Student Leadership & Family Outreach with GEAR UP at Appalachian State University. She is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Q' Pasa Appalachia, a platform created to amplify diverse voices and foster connections in the Appalachian region.

Yolanda Adams is currently the family resource coordinator for Watauga County Schools.

Yolanda's campaign for Watauga County Board of Education member is her first entry into politics. 

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

Supports encouraging Latino students in grades 8-12 to pursue higher education through the Juntos Program.

Supports encouraging higher education opportunities for students. 

- Supports encouraging higher education opportunities for students. 

Yolanda Adams

Adams has extensive professional experience in student support and family outreach. She currently serves as the Assistant Director for Student Leadership & Family Outreach with GEAR UP at Appalachian State University. Prior to this role, she spent 10 years working within Watauga County Schools. She is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Q' Pasa Appalachia, a platform created to amplify diverse voices and foster connections in the Appalachian region. Her work has been recognized with the Servant's Heart Award from Watauga County Schools and the Community Diversity and Inclusion Award from Appalachian State University.

Adams is a community leader and advocate who was appointed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to serve on the DRIVE Task Force, which focuses on developing a representative and inclusive vision for education by increasing educator diversity across the state. Her entry into the school board race follows over 20 years of residency in Boone and a career dedicated to educational equity and community bridges. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations, including the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and LatinxEd.

- Supports encouraging Latino students in grades 8-12 to pursue higher education through the Juntos Program.

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

- 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. 

Watauga County Board of Education Member, District 1

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School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing