Bedford County Schools recently announced the retirement of longtime Bedford County educator and principal, Whitney Yoes.
Yoes has been honored by the school system for her 35-year career in public education-one which school officials note has left a lasting impact on generations of students, families and colleagues across the district.
Yoes dedicated her entire career to BCS, beginning with 19 years teaching middle school math at Liberty School, where she inspired students across grades 6–8, including Algebra I. She later served as assistant principal at Community Elementary for 5 years before leading the school as principal for 9 years.
Most recently, she completed her second year as principal of Cartwright Elementary, where she played a key role in opening the new school and shaping its vision.
Reflecting on her career, Yoes emphasized that relationships - not titles - have defined her journey. She shared that “the most meaningful moments have been the relationships she’s built over the years with students, staff, families and the community, adding that watching students grow into successful adults and even return as educators has been among her greatest blessings.

See more of this story in the June 4 edition of the Times-Gazette.