North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro, NC · Education
takemetotn.com
wisenewsnetwork.com
The Tribune
Elkin school board to sign contract with new superintendent Nov. 16
A new superintendent for Elkin City Schools is expected to be in place for the start of the new year. The board has been working since the summer to recruit and hire a replacement for Dr. Steve Hall, who left the position in June. The school board hired North Carolina School Board Association consultant Sam Thorp to aid with the search and hiring process. On Monday, Nov. 16 the board will hold a Special Called Meeting in the media center at Elkin High School beginning at 6:30 p.m. A closed session will be held first, at 6 p.m. for the board to finalize discussions. In open session the board will officially vote on the new hire and sign the contract ahead of announcing the new leader and a welcome reception. The name of the new superintendent will not released until the contract is signed at the Nov. 16 meeting. The new superintendent is expected to begin on Jan. 1, 2027.
The Mount Airy News
Mount Airy Middle repeats as football conference champion
The Mount Airy Middle School football team put together another dominant season in 2026. The Granite Bears went 7-0 to complete their second consecutive undefeated season, including a 5-0 record in the Foothills Middle School Athletic Conference. Mount Airy finished first in the conference standings, followed by Pilot Mountain at 4-1, Chestnut Grove at 3-2, Southeastern Stokes at 2-3, North District at 1-4 and Central Middle at 0-5. The Granite Bears outscored opponents 230-50. Despite their undefeated season, the Granite Bears faced their share of obstacles, namely injuries. Head coach Choppy Cawley applauded his team’s “next man up” mentality. “We had at least one starter out with an injury in every game this season, which gave lots of guys on our team the chance to step into starting roles and they rose to the occasion,” Cawley said. “They were a great team to coach all around. They play hard, are receptive to coaching and most importantly enjoyed being around each other every day. “This team will be fun to watch in high school as they will surely make some deep playoff runs when they get to varsity.” Cawley is assisted by coaches Jimmy Selba, Andre Nance, Andrew Boles, Bobby Moore,
Ashe Post & Times
$35 million App State GEAR UP grant advances college, career readiness for Western NC students
BOONE — Appalachian State University’s Office of Rural Promise (ORP) is the awardee of a seven-year, $35 million GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The award marks the second consecutive $35 million federal grant App State has received in support of its GEAR UP program, allowing the university to serve more students and families across the western portion of the state. GEAR UP is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school. Through a wide range of research-based services to students, families and teachers, App State’s GEAR UP NC Appalachian Partnership aims to improve college-going mindsets, high school graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment rates. Results from App State’s previous GEAR UP grants demonstrate the program’s effectiveness in improving educational outcomes. Among participating schools, 97% of students were on track to graduate by the end of ninth grade, and 98% graduated from high school on time, significantly exceeding the statewide average of 88%, according to 2024–25 data, the latest available. “By helping prepare thousands of regional middle and high school students
hoodline.com
App State’s New GEAR UP Grant Targets 14,000 Students; Program Counts Vary by Cycle
Appalachian State University says its new seven-year, $35 million federal GEAR UP award will support college and career preparation for about 14,000 middle- and high-school students and their families in Western North Carolina. The program, GEAR UP APEX Northwest, began Oct. 1 and is the second consecutive $35 million GEAR UP grant awarded to the university, according to Appalachian Today.