Mission
Our mission is to build strong foundations for children’s learning and development by strengthening families, the early childhood system, and the wider community.
We carry out this mission by:
- Offering support programs and services to benefit children age 0-5 years through their families, caretakers and educators.
- Serving as a voice for the early childhood system.
- Educating the community on the critical needs of young children and helps develop solutions.
- Convening community stakeholders to develop and expand programs and services.
- Administering Smart Start and NC Pre-kindergarten funds to elevate early education opportunities for local children.
Vision
For every child in our community to have the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential in a community that supports, nurtures and empowers children and families.
What we want to be when we grow up:
Our current strategic plan is set to launch the Children’s Council into the future as we…
- Enhance child & Family wellbeing
- Increase visibility and community engagement
- Advance a healthy and sustainable organization
Our History
From a small group of concerned citizens organizing coat drives to a lively non-profit with over 20 programs and services, the Children’s Council has been uplifting local children, families and educators to meet their highest potential since 1977. Thanks to the hard work of many, local youth have the opportunity to soar.
1977
A group of volunteers band together to fill unmet needs of local children.
1999
‘The Children’s Council’ becomes an official Smart Start partnership.
2005
‘Raising a Reader’ advances early literacy in the community.
2006
The Children’s Council takes on the administration of NC Pre-K in Watauga.
2008
Children’s Council joins with WAMY and OASIS to form the Family Resource Center.
2015
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library comes to Watauga.
2019
The Children’s Council is officially recognized as a “family resource center”.
2023
The Children’s Council becomes a certified Family Forward Workplace.
“The Watauga CCR&R has been a fundamental part of me becoming established in the child care field. They are my go-to place for answers about licensing, required trainings, and support as a professional. I have referred multiple families for help with a variety of needs. I can not do my job without them.”
“I’m a grandparent, not the parent, but it helps his development and he is more interested in learning. It is important because it gives opportunities for my grandson to learn and interact with other children and learn new ways to do activities and read books. This is a wonderful program.”
Our Team:
Elisha Childers
Executive Director
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
My people, of course! The staff bring me such joy each day.
Favorite positive child experience:
Spending summers with my cousins on my great-grandparent’s farm. I am an only child, so this time with cousins was always so happy.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
A fashion illustrator. Not an actual clothing designer, mind you. I just wanted to draw the clothes.
Christine Thacker
Operations Manager
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
My coworkers, hands down. They’re the kind of people who make even the busiest days fun—they make work something I genuinely look forward to.
Favorite positive child experience:
Playing in the woods with my brother, searching for salamanders, scrambling over rocks, and climbing trees—those are the moments that shaped my childhood. Growing up in Boone, surrounded by such natural beauty, gave me the freedom to explore and the gift of wonder. I’m forever grateful for those years and the deep, lifelong appreciation for nature and the outdoors they instilled in me.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
Professional soccer player (Michelle Akers!)
Jessica Yates
Family Services Program Director
What’s the “why” behind your work?
The why behind my work is my daughter and my journey as a parent. When I became a parent, I quickly learned how challenging it can be and how important it is to have support. I am grateful and proud to be able to support families everyday through my work at the Children’s Council. I believe that everyone deserves a childhood full of positive experiences, and every parent deserves the support and information to make that happen.
Favorite positive child experience:
One of my favorite childhood experiences was living on a farm where I had the freedom to explore and be outdoors.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, and I was for about 13 years.
Virginia Ford
Development Director
What’s the “why” behind your work?
Over a decade of working with people in crisis made it clear that early intervention is the ‘difference-maker’. I wanted to be where people were getting the support they needed before their challenges became emergencies.
Favorite positive child experience:
Taking my snoopy pole and going fishing with my dad and brother.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
An author, because I always loved getting lost in the world of books.
Roberta Yates
Early Care & Education Team Lead
What's the "why behind your work?
I have always been passionate about working with children. After many years in child welfare, I felt called to shift into a role where I could make a more direct and lasting impact on a child’s life. I wanted to be part of something proactive rather than reactive, something that supports children before challenges become crises.
Quality early education is critical, as those first years shape the foundation for a lifetime. My goal is for every child to feel loved, valued, and secure. If their home environment cannot fully provide that, I want their early education program to be a place of safety, growth, and meaningful stimulation, space where every child can thrive.
Favorite positive child experience:
Every summer, we traveled to Canada at the same time each year. My parents would drive through the night, and once we crossed the border, we’d stop for breakfast at a favorite pancake house. We spent an idyllic week on a picturesque lake, where the water was icy cold, but that never stopped us from spending hours at the dock, swimming, boating, and forming lifelong friendships with the other returning families. All meals were shared in the lodge, which also became our rainy-day retreat for card games, ping pong, and sipping on “soda pop.”
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
I love seeing my amazing co-workers every day. We laugh together, support each other through tough moments, and share a strong commitment to our work. Everyone steps up and lends a hand when needed, creating a true sense of teamwork. It’s a safe and nurturing environment where you’re free to be yourself, learn from mistakes, and continue growing both personally and professionally.
Wes Berry
Home Based Childcare Coordinator
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
My coworkers, hands down. They’re the kind of people who make even the busiest days fun—they make work something I genuinely look forward to.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
I loved G.I. Joe, He-Man, and anything Professional Wrestling related. Vivid memories of creating forts in the dirt with G.I. Joe and making wrestling rings out of hymnals on the back of church pews to wrestle of WWF figures.
What’s the “why” behind your work?
The ability to create generational change drives me every day! Very few things in life can create the lasting change that early childcare and education can.
Sara Smith
Finance Associate
Favorite positive child experience:
I enjoyed my yearly beach trip with my family to Sunset Beach. We stayed in the same house and went to the same restaurants. There’s a sense of nostalgia when I visit there to this day.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
I basically wanted to be the superhero ‘She-Ra’.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
My go-cart. I put a lot of miles on that thing.
Sierra Snyder
Early Childhood Support Coordinator; KPL Group Facilitator
Describe your perfect day:
Coffee with plenty of yummy creamer, reading books with my daughter, playing in the sunshine, and swimming in any type of water.
What’s the “why” behind your work?
Playing in the woods with my brother, searching for salamanders, scrambling over rocks, and climbing trees—those are the moments that shaped my childhood. Growing up in Boone, surrounded by such natural beauty, gave me the freedom to explore and the gift of wonder. I’m forever grateful for those years and the deep, lifelong appreciation for nature and the outdoors they instilled in me.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
I’ve always wanted to be a mama!
Miranda Vaughn
Early Care & Education Coordinator
Jeannie Parsons-Rhymer
Family Navigator
Favorite positive child experience:
Playing in the dirt next to the creek and making mud pies with my dishes and playing house in the woods. Now, those were some great days.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
Riding the trails in the woods on our dirt bike.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
I wanted to be an airline stewardess, meeting all kinds of people, flying around the world seeing all there was to see.
Jillian Hines
Resource Specialist
Favorite positive child experience:
Playing make-believe games, riding bikes, and climbing trees in the woods with my brother, sister, neighbors, cousins, and our dog. I had a free-range childhood and was always surrounded by loving people from my community.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
My cat(s) and dog(s); baby dolls; mud, sand, paint, or anything else messy!
What’s the “why” behind your work?
I think children are the answer to a brighter, kinder, more sustainable future for our world and it is our responsibility as adults to invest in them.
Matt Powell
Program Support Coordinator; Circle of Parents Facilitator
Favorite positive child experience:
I frequently think of me and my brother creating these huge elaborate toy towns that would include like a city, an army base, rain forests with animals, the bathroom and bathtub filled with aquatic animals, etc.. We would spend hours making these towns and then we would have like a big war, and it was always so much fun taking the time to pretend and bond with my brother.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
I loved monopoly, me and my friends were always crazy competitive, and I just remember spending hours playing until we all quit at 5AM in the morning!
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
I wanted to work with animals, specifically exotic animals like large cats and monkeys!
Julia Larson
Bilingual Parent Educator
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
As a parent educator and home visitor, I love seeing the connections between parents/caregivers and their children and the unique ways they play and learn together. I have the privilege to get to know these families over an extended period of time and to witness the joy that families find in their child’s individual growth and development.
Favorite positive child experience:
As a child, I enjoyed playing with my younger brother in the yard in front of our house and the woods beside our house. Neither our yard nor the patch of woods was particularly large, but they felt huge as a child and gave us a safe place to play and roam. As I got older, I was able to walk on my own to friends’ houses in the neighborhood, playing games in their yards and riding our bicycles between houses. I feel very fortunate to have grown up somewhere that offered safe places to play and explore.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
Anything and everything CATS! For years, my aunt and uncle would send me a page-a-day cat calendar for Christmas and I would collect my favorite cat pictures from the calendar and group them into families, make up stories about the cats in the pictures, and build them homes out of old shoe boxes. As a grown-up, I now live with two real cats and they continue to be some of my favorite creatures!
Renee Ashwood
Lead Parent Educator
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
I love seeing all my coworkers in the morning! I feel so grateful to get to work with the families I see while at work. Sometimes it’s as simple as a parent reaching a goal they’ve worked so hard to achieve or hearing a child’s laughter sharing joy with the people and caregivers they are around.
Describe your perfect day:
My perfect day would start slow with my kiddos cuddled up and a warm cup of coffee. We would spend the day together exploring, cuddling, and reading together.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
Mud, sticks, and leaves! Playing outside was my favorite activity, and often I would spend the whole time outside after school, playing in a small patch of woods out front of my home or at my grandmother’s. I loved to explore!
Brenda Covarrubias León
Parents as Teachers Parent Educator
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
Knowing that I am nurturing positive childhoods.
Favorite positive child experience:
Playing soccer outside of my abuelitas house In Mexico.
Describe your perfect day:
Waking up before the sunlight hits my window. Yoga. Coffee + blueberry pancakes + bible. Getting work done @ a local coffee shop. Wrapping up the day with a sunset view.
Katie Miller
Lead DUAL School Teacher
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
I really enjoy greeting all the DUAL school kids in the morning and welcoming them into the classroom. They each have their own morning personality which I’ve loved getting to know.
Favorite positive child experience:
I remember visiting a flintstone park in Arizona with my family. It was set up kind of like Id imagine the flintstone movie set may be. There were no rides or anything, just a literal park with fake dinosaurs and such. My brother and I had so much fun! I also remember being so excited to try a catus drink while we were there. We went to the Grand Canyon the next day and I remember not being very impressed with that.
What’s the “why” behind your work?
I believe positive early childhood experiences and having an adult who loves you can set a child up for such a future! I love being able to be a part of their journey and encouraging them along the way.
Open Position
DUAL School Teacher
Maddie Dellinger
Children’s Program Specialist
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
One thing I love about my work is meeting new friends and teaching the kids new things!! I love working with our childcare team to create a space that is comfortable and welcoming for each child that gets to spend time with us, and getting to hangout with them for a little and form a connection with them over time!
What’s the “why” behind your work?
The “why” behind my work is my siblings!! I grew up being the oldest of 4, with a significant age gap between me and my brother and sisters. I was always helping out and reading them stories, putting them to bed, and going to gymnastics and soccer practices! The children we teach and care for today are our future, and I believe it is important that we help them learn with love and respect! My siblings taught me that, and they are everything to me!
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
I wanted to be a singer!! I was really into musical theatre and loved to sing ever since I was little. I still love to sing and dance, just now with the kids I get to spend time with each week!
Allison Rollans
Circle of Parents Facilitator
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
Support that other mothers show new attendees at our group.
Favorite positive child experience:
Playing in the woods.
Describe your perfect day:
Waking up to breakfast made, time for a shower and a home visit with a new parent, followed by lunch with my good friends and a hike with the fall leaves crunching under my feet. Followed by FaceTiming my grandson and dinner with my husband.
Sophie Rudisill
Postpartum Support Group Facilitator
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
I loved anything that could engage my imagination, especially a fold-up Sesame Street family apartment play set and a Fischer-Price town play set.
What’s the “why” behind your work?
Connection! I love supporting connection for the parents I get to work with, whether that is parents in group forming connections and friendships with each other or helping individuals to feel more connected to and confident in their new identity as a parent.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
I had dreams of being an actress, a mom, owning a catering company and being a photographer for National Geographic, all at the same time!
Angela King
Incredible Years Facilitator
Describe your perfect day:
Spending time with my family- preferably outdoors!
What’s the “why” behind your work?
I loved my bike- the freedom and fun!
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
A mom!
Jennifer Phillips
Incredible Years Facilitator
Describe your perfect day:
Waking up to a snow-covered mountain scape with warm coffee and my babies. We spend the whole day eating hearty soups while cuddling in front of a fireplace reading books.
What’s the “why” behind your work?
I believe in the curriculum we utilize. I just want caregivers to feel like they have options for handling childhood misbehaviors and feel supported in that role.
Which toy or game did you love most growing up?
Anything related to arts & crafts
Nataly Reza
Circle of Parents Facilitator
Something About Work that Always Makes Me Smile:
One thing about my work that never fails to make me smile are the interactions I have with my families and colleagues. The children’s council has built such a joyful atmosphere, built on not only giving back to others but also learning from one another.
What’s the “why” behind your work?
The why behind my work revolves largely around community. When I was younger, many of my positive childhood experiences were related to community gatherings and the people that my parents surrounded themselves with- both family and friends. Culturally, community is a large part of our lives; and as an adult there are many times I’ve reflected on this concept, applying it to what I want for my children and family as we establish roots here in Boone.
When I grew up I once wanted to be:
When I was growing up I wanted to be an immigration lawyer, and I still do. I am a firm believer that a persons path does not need to be linear, rather, it must serve a purpose to the journey. The purpose of this stage in my life is to create community, understand the need and apply myself in the future based on my life experiences now. I am a mother and community member first- with continuous aspirations for my future self.