Watauga Education Foundation

06/02/2026

Hip Hip Hooray for our Professional Development Scholarship Recipients! We love supporting educators as they pursue continuing education and professional development opportunities.

Kirsten Hodges, Parkway School
Erin Selle, Hardin Park School
Meade Richter, Blowing Rock School
Toni Burke, Green Valley School
Shane Terzaken, Green Valley School
Claire Jensen, Hardin Park School
Robin Lowe, Watauga High School

06/01/2026

Let's hear for our next round of WEF Classroom Grant recipients! Educators like you are what make Watauga County Schools so very special. WEF is honored to support you!

McKenzie Huffman, Parkway School: Flexible Seating to Enhance Focus

Kristen Davis, Green Valley School: Next Generation Life Savers: Choking Response

Dr. Shawn Roberts, Green Valley and Parkway Schools: Modernizing Band & Orchestra through Trending Music Styles

Katrina Shook, Green Valley School: Student Operated Express Grill

Lane Holt, Hardin Park School: The Classroom Economy: Banking and Money Management

Lindsey Wilson, Hardin Park School: Kinesthetic Learning Through Role Play

Natasha Lyons, Valle Crucis School: Interactive Math Breakout Boxes

Hailey Bare, Watauga High School: Watauga Orchards and Gardens: A Multiphase Endeavor

Taryn Wooten, Watauga High School: Beef of the Bows! Restoration and Repair of String Instruments

05/30/2026

WEF is proud to support such creative and committed teachers and staff!

WATAUGA — The Watauga Education Foundation has awarded 27 Watauga County Schools educators grants and scholarships totaling $30,000 for the 2025-2026 school year.

05/28/2026

Yesterday, we kicked off celebrating our 2026 grants winner with Alyssa Parsels from Valle Crucis. Now, over the next few days, you'll meet the rest of our grant and professional development scholarship winners. Thank you for bringing innovation and intentionality to your classroom. WEF is honored to support you!

Amber Dollyhigh, Hardin Park School: Sensory Seeking Solutions to Enhance Learning

Anne Sukow, Bethel School: Collaboration Through Board Games

Ashley Tate, Green Valley and Mabel: Custom Carving & Stamped Pottery

Bailey Little, Watauga County Schools Central Office: Elevating Student Voices through Purposeful Communication

Brittany Bolick, Hardin Park School: 9 Square in the Air!

Caitlin Ellis, Hardin Park School: Innovative Thinking Desks to Encourage Group Collaboration

Charlene Chialoranzio, Parkway School: Flexible Seating for Diverse Learners

Courtney McWhorter, Blowing Rock and Cove Creek: Collaborative Canvas: Merging Art and Technology

Erik Mortensen, Watauga High School: Modernizing the Automotive Experience

Karla Lerner, Hardin Park School: Sensory Seeking Solutions to Enhance Learning

05/28/2026

Congratulations to Alyssa Parsels, a 2026 Classroom Grant Recipient at Valle Crucis! The WEF grant she received will build classroom libraries for the students of Valle Crucis. We are so thankful for the donors that help make these grants possible.

05/22/2026

Looking for fun, family-friendly Saturday evening plans? How about dinner and a movie...did we mention the movie is FREE?!

Check out the FREE showing of Bad Guys 2 tomorrow at 4p at the Appalachian Theatre. Then head out for dinner at one of the following downtown Boone restaurants. 3% of this week's sales go back into our public schools through the Watauga Education Foundation.

Fizz Ed
South End
Come Back Shack
Mellow Mushroom
Vidalia Restaurant and Wine Bar
The Pasta Joint
Ben and Jerry’s
Black Cat
Melanie's Food Fantasy
COBO
Venture Chocolate and Wine
F.A.R.M. Cafe
Little Wing Ice Cream
Fries and Friends
Wildwood Commuity market
Betty’s Biscuits
Rooted on King
Lost Province Brewing Co.
The Horton Hotel and Rooftop

05/21/2026

We appreciate everyone in the community - including our board member Adam Jackson - coming together to support Forks Up! for Education, Watauga Education Foundation, and the Boone Downtown restaurants.

Who else is eating downtown this week?

05/21/2026

Jack says LET’S GO! The App Theatre is ready for Saturday’s FREE showing of Bad Guys 2. Catch the movie and then head Downtown Boone, NC for Forks Up! For Education! We will see you there!

05/20/2026

Come and meet the incredible Appalachian FC players, eat delicious pizza and support our public schools! Soccer fans, pizza fans, and school fans UNITE!

It's Restaurant Week for Watauga Education Foundation! Come out to Mellow Mushroom tonight at 6 with us! The entire squad will be out supporting and the proceeds are going to a great place! Hope to see a bunch of you there! Check out more details of how WEF supports our youth here in The High Country! 👇
👣⚽️🏫🎒

https://www.wataugaedfoundation.org/restaurantweek

05/19/2026

Have you made lunch or dinner plans yet? Visit one of these great restaurants in Downtown Boone, and a portion of this week's sales go directly back into our public schools through the Watauga Education Foundation.

Fizz Ed
South End
Come Back Shack
Mellow Mushroom
Vidalia Restaurant and Wine Bar
The Pasta Joint
Ben and Jerry’s
Black Cat
Melanies Food Fantasy
COBO
Venture Chocolate and Wine
F.A.R.M. Cafe
Little Wing Ice Cream
Fries and Friends
Wildwood Community Market
Betty’s Biscuits
Rooted on King
Lost Province Brewing Co.
The Horton Hotel and Rooftop