Who We Are
Elevate Watauga
ELEVATE WATAUGA is an initiative born from the work of the Prenatal to Three Stakeholder group. This group is comprised of community leaders, early childhood advocates, policy makers, administrators, and parents and has been meeting since late 2018 to develop and refine an action plan for our community with the primary goal of advancing promising policies and programs that ensure every parent has the support they need to give their children a strong start in life. With support from the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers and the National Association of Counties, Watauga County is one of 29 counties in the country to be selected to be a part of this national initiative to move the needle for babies and toddlers in our community. In order to advance the priorities identified by this group there is a need for increased local investments in the work. The Early Childhood Education and Development Fund was established as a mechanism to leverage private dollars in order to drive greater public investments.
Key Accomplishments
- Watauga County Commissioners unanimously passed Resoution to Promote Investments in Young Children and their Families
- Development of Resource Map of Early Childhood System
- Development of Local Action plan and guiding priorities for funding
- Development of Early Childhood Education and Development Fund
- Establishment of Local Accreditation Standards for High Quality Early Learning Settings
- Establishment of Universal Home Visiting Program (Launch date January 2020)
Members of Elevate Watauga
Dr. Scott Elliott, WCS Superintendent
Dr. Denise Brewer, Chair of Child and Family Studies, Appalachian State University
Joe Furman, Director, Watauga County Planning & Inspections and Economic Development
David Jackson, CEO Boone Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Gary Childers, WCS School Board Representative
Brenda Reese, WCS School Board Representative
Mary Scott, Associate Director, Children’s Council of Watauga County
Marshall Ashcraft, Boone Town Council
Marti Phillips, Executive Director of HIgh Country United Way
Crystal Kelly, Pritzker Fellow, National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers
Eiisha Freeman, Executive Director of Children’s Council of Watauga County
Murray Hawkinson, Clinical Director of Daymark Recovery Services
Jennifer Herman, Executive Director of OASIS
Diane Deal, Watauga County Clerk of Court
Julie Peck, Director of Children’s Developmental Services Agency
Athalia Whitworth, Parent and Small Business Owner
Deron Geoque, Watauga County Manager
Billy Kennedy, Watauga County Commissioner
Maria Julian, Parent
Jason Triplett, Business Representative
Kevin Troyer, Business Representative
Roberta Yates, Quality Support Specialist, Children’s Council of Watauga County
Jennifer Greene, Health Director of Appalachian District Health Department
Kelly Welsh, Clinical Director of Appalachian District Health Department
Wendy Boone, Service Coordinator for the Children’s Developmental Services Agency
Christelle Marsh, Service Coordinator for the Children’s Developmental Services Agency
Hunter Varipapa, Early Care and Education Director for the Children’s Council
Allison Rollans, Owner of High Country Doula
Mandy White, Director of Early Childhood Education, Caldwell Community College
Jessica Snead, Maternity Care Coordinator, AppHealthCare
Adam Hege, Department of Public Health, Appalachian State University
Kelly Reed-Ashcraft, Department of Social Work, Appalachian State University
Linda Albritton, Early Childhood Education, Caldwell Community College
Lee Marshall, Child Care Consultant, NC Division of Child Development and Early Education
Jennifer Schroeder, Director of Preparedness and Special Projects, AppHealthCare
Andrea Anderson, Director of Lucy Brock, Appalachian State University
Moriah Stegall, Director of Child Development Center, Appalachian State University
Lori Ludwig, Performance Blueprints
Robin Triplett, Family Services Coordinator, Children’s Council of Watauga County
THE FUND
The fund will be held and managed by the Children’s Council of Watauga County. Allocations can be made bi-annually to projects or programs that are in alignment with the goals and priorities of the fund and as recommended by the Early Childhood Education and Development Committee.