Last Updated on August 6, 2025 3:00 pm
BOONE – Watauga County Schools and Parkway School are pleased to announce Angela Bland as the new assistant principal at Parkway.
”We are thrilled to welcome Angela Bland as the new assistant principal at Parkway School,” said Parkway School principal Martha Trimble.
“As a Watauga County native, she brings not only a deep understanding of our community, but also a wealth of classroom and leadership experience. Her ability to connect with students, families, and staff truly stood out, and we're so excited for the energy and heart she'll bring to our school. She's a wonderful addition to our Parkway family.”
Most recently, Bland was a Middle Grades Math teacher at Hardin Park Elementary where she taught since August 2014.
As a K-12 student, she attended school in WCS and began her journey at Parkway, where she spent her K-2 years. She attended Hardin Park School for grades 3-8. She graduated from Watauga High School in 2009.
“The community is home to me, our families are here, and this is where I want our boys to grow up,” Bland said. ”This fuels my commitment to giving back and helping every student feel seen, supported and empowered.”
Her new role as a principal is one that she aspired to as a young child.
“As a young child, I vividly remember spending time at my Nana’s house during the summer playing school where I embodied the role of ‘principal”, Bland said.
She reflects fondly on the many teachers throughout her academic career who influenced her decision to pursue a career in education. They influenced her through instruction and showed her the importance of building meaningful relationships with students, holding them to high expectations and a commitment to high academic excellence.
“Ultimately, I want to positively impact students’ lives by building lasting and meaningful relationships, letting them know they are cared for, while progressing them forward in their academic journey,” Bland said.
She added that seeing a student have an “aha moment” is everything to her.
When asked what she looks forward to most about joining the administration at Parkway, Bland is most excited about the relationships she will build with teachers, students, and families. She looks forward to sharing her experiences and knowledge and being a part of the Parkway family. She plans to learn, grow, and challenge herself as a lifelong learner. Bland is strongly committed to serving the community with energy and empathy while striving for excellence.
She anticipates the greatest challenge in her new role to be learning the full scope of it. This includes balancing responsibilities such as instructional leadership, student discipline and staff support.
“I plan to overcome this by building strong relationships with the faculty and staff at Parkway, asking questions when I do not know something and remaining open to feedback,” Bland said.
She also plans to lean on mentorship from experienced colleagues and take advantage of professional development opportunities.
“Most importantly, I will keep students at the center of every decision and work collaboratively to support a positive, productive school environment,” Bland said.
Aside from her passion for education, Bland enjoys several hobbies and interests. These include spending time with family, hiking and being outdoors, cooking and baking, reading, crafting and organizing.
