GEAR UP Partners
Partnering with school systems to improve educational pathways and degree attainment in WNC
The Appalachian GEAR UP Partnership grant serves approximately 15,000 students from 10 school districts in the following Western North Carolina counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Clay, Graham, Madison, Swain, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey. Appalachian GEAR UP strives to create capacity in the districts that changes mindsets around college access and college goingness in a sustainable way. The goal is that the impact of Appalachian GEAR UP will be felt in the districts even after the grant has ended.
*Elementary and Middle Schools served 2021 and beyond.
Alleghany County Schools
Ashe County Schools
- Ashe County Middle
- Blue Ridge Elementary
- Mountain View Elementary
- Westwood Elementary
- Ashe County High
- Ashe Early College High School
Burke County Schools
- East Burke Middle
- Heritage Middle
- Liberty Middle
- Table Rock Middle
- Walter Johnson Middle
- Jimmy C. Draughn High
- East Burke High
- Freedom High
- Patton High
Clay County Schools
Graham County Schools
Swain County Schools
Watauga County Schools
- Bethel Elementary
- Cove Creek Elementary
- Green Valley Elementary
- Mabel Elementary
- Watauga High
- Watauga Innovation Academy
Wilkes County Schools
- Central Wilkes Middle
- East Wilkes Middle
- North Wilkes Middle
- West Wilkes Middle
- East Wilkes High
- North Wilkes High
- West Wilkes High
- Wilkes Central High
- Wilkes Early College High School
Yancey County Schools
Madison County Schools
Alleghany County Schools
- Angela Parlier
- Office: (336) 372-4554 ext. 4211
- angela.parlier@alleghany.k12.nc.us
Ashe County Schools
- Karee Mackey
- Office: 336-846-2400
- Cell: 336-877-6620
- karee.mackey@ashe.k12.nc.us
- Office: 336-846-2400
Burke County Schools
- Kim Logan
- Cell: 828-234-2725
- kimlogan@burke.k12.nc.us
- Darrion Evans
- Office: 828-244-9481
- darrionevans@burke.k12.nc.us
Clay County Schools
- Mary Cothren
- Office: 828-389-9924 x 4317
- Cell: 706-897-0984
- mcothren@hayesvillems.org
Graham County Schools
- Francine Williams
- Work: 828-479-9830 ext. 3606
- fwilliams@graham.k12.nc.us
Madison County Schools
- Denise Ward
Swain County Schools
- Taylor Dodge
- Office: 828-488-2152 ext 5256
- tdodge@swainmail.org
Watauga County Schools
- Amber Kelly
- Office: 828-264-3606
- kellya@wataugaschools.org
Wilkes County Schools
- Jody Freeman
- Office: (336) 651-7049
- Cell: (336) 452-8771
- freemanj@wilkes.k12.nc.us
- Kathryn Wright
- Office: (336) 651-7049
- Cell: (256) 388-9123
- wrightk@wilkes.k12.nc.us
- Kyla Kerr
- Office: (336) 651-7073
- kerrk@wilkes.k12.nc.us
- Brie Jarvis
- Office: (336) 651-7073
- jarvisa@wilkes.k12.nc.us
Yancey County Schools
- Gail Branton
- Office: 828-284-9914
- rgbranton@yanceync.net
Where We Are
Higher Education Partners
Appalachian State University | Partnering school districts and higher eds: All Institutional website: www.appstate.edu |
Tri-County Community College | Partnering school district(s): Clay County Schools Primary GEAR UP contact: Silas Shields
Institutional website: www.tricountycc.edu |
AB Tech | Partnering school district(s): Madison County Schools Primary GEAR UP contact: Dr. Fairley Patton
Institutional website: www.abtech.edu |
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Partnering school district(s): Watauga County Schools Primary GEAR UP contact: Dena Holman
Institutional website: www.cccti.edu |
Mayland Community College | Partnering school district(s): Yancey County Schools Primary GEAR UP contact: Monica Carpenter
Institutional website: www.mayland.edu |
Southwestern Community College | Partnering school district(s): Swain County Schools Primary GEAR UP contact: Cheryl Contino-Conner
Institutional website: www.southwesterncc.edu |
UNC Asheville | Partnering school district(s): All Primary GEAR UP contact: Eric Klein
Institutional website: www.unca.edu |
Western Piedmont Community College
| Partnering school district(s): Burke County Schools Primary GEAR UP contact: Jennifer Propst
Institutional website: www.wpcc.edu |
Wilkes Community College
| Partnering school district(s): Wilkes County Schools Primary GEAR UP contact: Lacey Kilby
Institutional website: www.wilkescc.edu |