Staff Members
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Elisha Childers
Executive Director Elisha has more than 26 years of progressively responsible experience in the administration and operation of nonprofit organizations. Her roles have included client services, program management, grant writing, fundraising, advocacy, and executive leadership. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the Charles M. Snipes School of Business and Economics at Lenoir-Rhyne University. She attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Child Development and Family Relations. She also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and is a Certified Grants Specialist through Research Associates, Inc. Elisha was recently appointed to the Birth through Third Grade Interagency Council by the NC General Assembly. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Henderson County and is a member of the Hendersonville Rotary Club and the WNC Early Childhood Coalition. Her proudest accomplishments are her children, JC and Lauren, ages 23 and 20. JC and his wife live in Boiling Springs, SC and her daughter Lauren is a pianist and Music Therapy student at Florida State University. Elisha remarried in May 2019 and relocated to Wilkesboro, NC with her husband. |
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Hunter Varipapa
Early Care and Education Director; NC Pre-K Coordinator Hunter received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Special Education, Birth through Kindergarten Licensure and Masters in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten from Appalachian State University. She has a Certificate in Early Education Leadership from Harvard Graduate School. She has worked in the field of early childhood since 1998. She has been a director of a child development center, public school pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teacher, early literacy coordinator, and has taught early childhood education courses at Appalachian State University. She works with Watauga County’s early childhood educators through our Pathways To Accreditation Program. Hunter also is the NC Pre-K Coordinator for Watauga County. Hunter loves living in the mountains with her husband Christopher and kids Major & Roc L.! |
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Wes Berry
Home-Based Child Care Coordinator Wes is a native of Watauga County and has a 10+ year history with The Children’s Council as an Incredible Year’s Coordinator, Board Member, and Volunteer. Wes was a graduate of Cove Creek Elementary, Watauga High School, and Appalachian State, and recently completed his master’s degree in Youth, Family, and Community Sciences from North Carolina State University. He brings nearly twenty years of marketing experience with him and specializes in creative storytelling, marketing implementation, and organizational growth. Wes is excited to utilize his networking skills, and educational track to help facilitate a home-based child care network for Watauga County. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and creating healthy environments for family life education and social justice endeavors. Wes has two daughters, Savanna (19) and Larson (15). |
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Christine Thacker
Operations Manager Originally from Boone, Christine graduated from Appalachian State University in 2003 with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Communications and a minor in Media Studies. She has worked for numerous small businesses in the area and has several years of experience in office management and customer service. Christine is excited to apply her skills to the non profit arena and help this great organization meet their goals for the future. In her spare time she loves hiking, camping, music and spending as much time as possible outside with her husband, son and dog. |
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Sierra Snyder
Technical Assistance Specialist Sierra received her Bachelor's degree in Child Development from Appalachian State University in 2018. She graduated with a focus in Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers. Sierra worked as an early childhood educator in some capacity for eight years. During her time as an early childhood educator, she fell in love with positive guidance principles, responsive caregiving, and forming partnerships with families. She is passionate about the importance of early childhood and how a child's earliest years can affect the rest of their life. She was hired on at the Children's Council as the Resource Specialist in March of 2023 but it didn't take long to recognize her incredible potential in the world of early childcare. By August 2023, she had moved into the role of Technical Assistance Specialist to support our local Early Childhood Educators and their classrooms. Sierra lives in Boone with her fiancé and their two cats. She enjoys reading, playing in the sunshine, and traveling. |
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Mathew Powell
Program Support Coordinator; Circle of Parents Facilitator Mathew moved to Boone in 2016 from Shelby, NC, where he graduated from Crest High School. He recently graduated from Caldwell Community College with an Associates and now attends Appalachian State University where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Mathew's major is Business Management, and he intends to pursue a career in management or business administration. He began working at the Children's Council in 2016 as a work study student and as a childcare assistant. Mathew currently works part-time as the Administrative Assistant. Mathew's hobbies are sports, such as basketball and soccer and watching the Dallas Cowboys play football. He also enjoys spending time with his fiancé, two dogs, his friends, and his mentee from the Western Youth Network. |
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Roberta Yates
Early Childhood Specialist Roberta Yates landed in Boone in 1989 for graduate school and fell in love with the area. She met her husband, David, and moved away for several years. They came back to the high country to enjoy a slower pace and start a family. Roberta has a son, 21, and a daughter, 17. She joins The Children Council after serving foster and adoptive families at Watauga County Department of Social Services for 20 + years. Roberta has worked with children in a variety of settings, including as a nanny, therapist, social worker, and parent. She earned her undergraduate degree in Child Development and her Masters in Counseling from Appalachian State University. Roberta is excited to be serving children and families of Watauga County in a totally new capacity. She is passionate about the importance of quality child care for everyone. Roberta loves the outdoors, sunshine, reading, and laughing. Roberta and her family live in Valle Crucis with their 2 dogs. |
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Jeannie Parsons-Rhymer
Family Connects Program Support Specialist Jeannie is native in Boone and loves being part of this community. She has served families in the High Country for the Children's Council for over 10 years. Jeannie enjoys helping families by connecting them with resources, providing parenting education, and empowering them with new skills. She loves children and strongly believes that their wellbeing is our future. Jeannie holds degrees in Medical and General Office Administration, certification as a notary public, and certified in Triple P. Her main goal in life is to help improve all the lives of individuals she comes in contact with in a positive way. Jeannie has 2 biological sons, with 3 biological grandchildren. She remarried in 2018 and now has 6 bonus children, and 10 bonus grandchildren. She adores and loves spending time with all her family. She has many hobbies, but especially loves spending her time outdoors enjoying the mountains and her other happy place, the beach. |
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Virginia Ford
Family Connects Community Alignment Specialist Virginia has been involved in the High County’s non-profit sector for nearly 20 years. She graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Psychology in 2008 but began her commitment to local community service in 2004. She has enjoyed working with several local non-profits over the years—lending to her a background in case management, crisis intervention, staff supervision, support services, leadership development, staff training, advocacy, volunteer recruitment, life skills training, administrative services, direct care and life coaching. Virginia felt drawn to the world of parenting support following the birth of her first child and was thrilled when the door finally opened for her to pursue that avenue through the Children’s Council. She loves time with her husband, two children and their dog. She enjoys traveling, the outdoors, cooking, art and music. |
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Hope Brawley
Family Connects Program Support Specialist Hope graduated from Appalachian State University in 2001 and made the High Country her home. She is the proud mother of two beautiful sons and loves supporting local mothers in the postpartum period through Family Connects. She visits mothers and families at the labor and delivery unit daily to let them know about the services available to them and their new babies. She shows her passion for our community through deep connection to its people. In 2011, Hope completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Neighborhood Yoga in order to support her calling to offer movement that sustains the body, mind and spirit. She also studied prenatal and postnatal yoga at the Asheville Yoga Center. She believes yoga calms the busy mind, preparing it to be free from fluctuations so that our prayers and intentions are pure and from an open heart. She also taught dance for people with Parkinson’s. In her free time Hope likes to cook, hike, make medicine from locally harvested medicinal herbs, dance and spend time in her garden. |
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Renee Milligan
Family Support Programs Assistant/Children's Program Specialist Renee moved to the High Country in 2013 and graduated from Appalachian State University with an undergrad degree in Psychology. She has worked with children and parents at the Children's Council since 2016 working a variety of different programs. Renee supports families in multiple ways from helping organize children's and parenting programs to visiting families in their homes for more one-on-one support. Renee has a passion for prenatal and postnatal support as well as child development and gentle parenting practices. She is married with two little ones at home and enjoys her free time cultivating new skills, cooking, hiking, and camping in the mountains with her family. |
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Jessica Yates
Family Services Program Director Jessica earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Appalachian State University, and her Masters degree in Birth to Kindergarten Education from UNC Greensboro. She is native to Watauga County, and before recently joining the Children’s Council, Jessica worked as an early childhood educator in our area for over ten years. Jessica is excited to begin her new role as out Family Services Program Director after serving as an exemplary Parents as Teachers Parent Educator for two years. Jessica's applied knowledge gained through her coursework, classroom experiences, and her own experiences as a mother are an asset to the organization and our community. When she is not at work, Jessica enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Joshua, and her daughter, Makayla. |
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Brenda Covarrubias León
Educadora de Padres Bilingüe y Traductora del Children’s Council Orgullosamente nacida y criada en Jalisco, México, Brenda se mudó a Boone en el 2019 donde consiguió su licenciatura en el desarrollo de los niños de la universidad Appalachian State en el 2022 como estudiante de primera generación. Brenda comenzó a formar relaciones con niños y sus hermosas familias en el 2017. A Brenda le encanta viajar, probar nuevas recetas, hacer ejercicio, meditar, y escribir para autorreflexionar. Como defensora de los derechos de los niños, ella cree que merecen un medio ambiente sano con cuidadores emocionalmente disponibles. A Brenda le apasiona representar y apoyar a su comunidad y a familias con historias como la de ella. Bilingual Parent Educator & The Children’s Council Translator Proudly born and raised in Jalisco, México, Brenda moved to Boone in 2019, earning her bachelor's in child development at Appalachian State University in 2022 as a first-generation student. Brenda started building relationships with children and their beautiful families in 2017 in the early childcare field. Brenda loves to travel, try new recipes, strength training, meditate, and journal for self-reflection. As an advocate for children, she believes they deserve a nurturing environment with caring and emotionally available caregivers. Brenda is passionate about representing and serving her community and families with stories like hers. |
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Jennifer Phillips
Incredible Years Facilitator Jennifer graduated from Appalachian State University in 2007 and just couldn’t leave the High Country. She’s a homeschooling mom of 3 and active in several volunteer positions in the community and throughout North Carolina. She’s been the parent-leader at Circle of Parents yoga for 2 years and works from home part time creating social media programs for small businesses. She’s also a persistent advocate for the arts and is on the board of a few blacksmithing-related non-profits. Jennifer spends most of her time running around with, and after, her daughters while enjoying hiking, gardening, yoga, and teaching. |
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Angela King
Incredible Years Facilitator Angela fell in love with Boone while attending Appalachian State University. She did her undergraduate and graduate work in psychology and counseling with a concentration in child development, expressive arts and play therapy. Since graduating, she has been a part of several local schools including Mountain Pathways Montessori School where she served as the Head of School and on the Board of Directors. Angela also ran her own school, Mountain Sprouts– a Montessori style preschool- for several years. Additionally, she has worked one on one in a counseling setting with ages birth to six. Angela volunteers with numerous organizations and is currently serving a three year term with the Watauga County Economic Development Commission. Angela loves spending time traveling, chasing waterfalls, kayaking, hiking, climbing, dancing and anything outdoors with her husband, Christopher, and their seven children. |
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Sophie Rudisill
Circle of Parents Facilitator Sophie received a dual degree in Psychology and Studio Art from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA in 2006 and later went on to get her Masters in Social Work, with a focus in direct practice with children and families, from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2011. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked with children, adolescents and parents for over 15 years in various roles that promote empowerment, compassion and growth. Sophie joined the Children's Council team in 2016 when she began the postpartum distress support group. She is a Perinatal Mental Health Certified clinician and has a private practice in the community where she frequently works with new parents experiencing perinatal and postpartum distress. Sophie enjoys cooking, music, dancing, travel, and playing outside in every season with her family. |
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Allison Rollans
Circle of Parents Facilitator Allison loves supporting families through pregnancy, birth and those first few years. As a parent facilitator of Pregnancy Connects she loves supporting expecting parents feel comfortable in their own experiences and sharing with other expectant parents in the safe virtual setting of Circle of Parents. Outside of her work with the Children's Council you will find her teaching childbirth classes and supporting parents as a doula, an infant feeding specialist & positive parenting practitioner. She is also a certified health coach and works with moms and children to help them understand their best nutrition, exercise & lifestyle choices. She is passionate about the importance of parents' mental health during this very changing time. Aside from in-depth training in perinatal mood disorders–such as postpartum anxiety & depression, she works with the local High Country PSI chapter to raise money and awareness for training and support. Her most accomplished element she claims is her family; happily married with 3 grown children whom she loves tremendously. She knows that a parent's transition into parenthood can be happier and healthier with support. |
