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Betsy Rosenbalm earned master's degrees in reading education and school administration from Appalachian State University and a doctoral degree in education from Gardner-Webb University. She lives in Todd.

The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program

Betsy is a clinical assistant professor and North Carolina Principal Fellows co-director, a program for people looking to enter school administration in North Carolina, at Appalachian State University. She previously the director of partnerships and engagement at Appalachian State University.

Betsy Rosenbalm (Watauga County Schools school board District 4, North Carolina, candidate 2026)

Betsy's campaign for Watauga County Board of Education member is her first run at public office.

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

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Supports programs that aim to improve teacher effectiveness and retention.

- Supports programs that aim to improve teacher effectiveness and retention.

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

Betsy Rosenbalm

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

Matthew Tomas

Buket Urgen

Chad Cole is from Boone, North Carolina. He graduated from Watauga High School.

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Chad Cole is from Vilas. He has an associate's degree in biblical studies from Andersonville Theological Seminary. He lives with his wife, Maria, and their children.

Chad has worked in emergency services for more than two decades. He also has experience in organizational leadership, managing teams, coordinating operations, and overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets in both nonprofit and private-sector roles. 

Chad currently works as a travel operations specialist for Mercy Ships, the owner of Trinity Transport, and the pastor at Chestnut Dale Baptist Church. He previously worked as a firefighter and an emergency medical services technician.

11/08/2022 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - WATAUGA

2024 Watauga County Unofficial General Election Results | Local ...

Chad previously ran for Watauga County Board of Education in 2024 and 2022, but did not win.

For Candidate Chad Cole on Issue school-services-resources: Advocates for data-driven decisions regarding staffing, facilities, and programs to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars while maintaining educational quality and student services.

Advocates for data-driven decisions regarding staffing, facilities, and programs to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars while maintaining educational quality and student services.

- Advocates for data-driven decisions regarding staffing, facilities, and programs to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars while maintaining educational quality and student services.

Opposes the use of school vouchers, believing they are unnecessary for education access.

Opposes school vouchers and other programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools

- Opposes school vouchers and other programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools

For Candidate Chad Cole on Issue teachers: Supports prioritizing teacher support, competitive compensation, and policies that respect classroom realities to retain quality teachers and staff.

Supports prioritizing teacher support, competitive compensation, and policies that respect classroom realities to retain quality teachers and staff.

- Supports prioritizing teacher support, competitive compensation, and policies that respect classroom realities to retain quality teachers and staff.

For Candidate Chad Cole on Issue school-curriculum: Supports strengthening career and technical education and workforce pathways, and partnerships with local businesses and community colleges to provide students with practical options and long-term value in public schools.

Supports strengthening career and technical education and workforce pathways, and partnerships with local businesses and community colleges to provide students with practical options and long-term value in public schools.

- Supports strengthening career and technical education and workforce pathways, and partnerships with local businesses and community colleges to provide students with practical options and long-term value in public schools.

Believes that safety issues in schools stem from outside the school and supports the presence of student resource officers for safety-related programs.

- Believes that safety issues in schools stem from outside the school and supports the presence of student resource officers for safety-related programs.

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Chad Cole

Chad Cole graduated from Watauga High School. He is a parent.

Chad has worked in emergency services for more than two decades. He has also worked in both nonprofit and private-sector roles, where he managed teams, coordinated complex operations, and oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets. 

Chad previously ran for Watauga County Board of Education member in 2022 but did not win.

David Aaron Grig's campaign for Watauga County Board of Education Member is his first entry into politics.

Watauga County, North Carolina, elections, 2024 - Ballotpedia

As of January 2, 2026, David Aaron Grig did not have a website or any information online.

David Aaron Grig

As of January 2, 2026, David Aaron Grig’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Megan Kornhauser is a resident of Watauga County.

Primary ballot set with contested local races - Watauga Democrat

Megan's campaign for county board of education in Watauga County is her first run for public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Megan (Chayyim) Kornhauser did not have a website or any information online.

Opposes book bans and attempts to "erase uncomfortable truths in history".

Opposes "Christian hegemony" in schools, specifically speaking out against mandates to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

- Opposes book bans and attempts to "erase uncomfortable truths in history".
- Opposes "Christian hegemony" in schools, specifically speaking out against mandates to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

Megan (Chayyim) Kornhauser

Megan Kornhauser identifies as a resident of District 4 in Watauga County. Her platform reflects a personal commitment to religious and social diversity, referencing her Jewish heritage and advocating for the protection of non-Christian, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC students.

Kornhauser’s candidacy is a direct response to the recent redistricting of Watauga County, which she characterizes as gerrymandering by State Senator Ralph Hise. She notes that the new maps shifted municipal elections from an at-large format to five non-contiguous districts, prompting her to run specifically to represent her home district. Her motivation is rooted in the "ever-growing" threats to public education and a sense of moral obligation, citing the rabbinical teaching: "If not now, when? If not me, who?".

- Opposes book bans and attempts to "erase uncomfortable truths in history". She also opposes "Christian hegemony" in schools, specifically speaking out against mandates to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

As of January 2, 2026, Megan (Chayyim) Kornhauser’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 4

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School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing