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Sarah Cristino, Media Specialist

Ms. Cristino is originally from Chicago, Illinois and moved to North Carolina for school. She recently graduated from North Carolina Central with her Masters in Library Sciences. Ms. Cristino loves to read, travel, and spend time with her loved ones. She used to be a barista and loves to go to new coffee shops to try their Iced Chai Lattes. This upcoming school year will be her first year teaching, and she is super excited to be starting her career at Root Elementary! 

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Amanda Daley, Art

Mrs. Daley is a true Tar Heel! She was born and raised in Raleigh, and graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts. During her time in the NC Teach Program, she obtained experience working with grades K-12, including half-a-year as a long-term substitute at Aldert Root! She fell in love with Root and permanently joined the Root family in 2016. Before Root, Mrs. Daley taught Visual Arts & Ceramics for 3 years at Jordan High School in Durham. She is currently earning her Masters of Education in Art at East Carolina University. 

She and her husband enjoy spending time at home or at the beach with the love of their lives, their Wheaten Terrier named Louis. Mrs. Daley loves to make art, teach art, refinish furniture, watch hockey with her husband, work in her yard and go for walks with her pup.

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Amy Koo, Music

Mrs. Koo was born in Shreveport, LA and raised in Yorktown, VA, thanks to being in a military family.  Her father was a member of the Air Force Band throughout her childhood, which inspired her to go into music as a profession.  Mrs. Koo has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Appalachian State University, a Masters of Music in Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and currently holds her National Board for Professional Teaching Certification.  She joined the Root family in 2012, after teaching High School Band for two years at Lexington Senior High School in Lexington, NC and teaching K-5 general music for seven years at Micro-Pine Level Elementary, in Pine Level, NC.  She is also the current Technology Chair for the North Carolina Music Educator’s Association.

Mrs. Koo loves learning new skills and anything technology-related, as well as spending time with her family.  She has five children- Kent (17), Kyla (15), Kevin (13), Mia (6), and Richie (4), and also lives with her husband Bobby, grandmother Alice and chihuahua Chibi.   

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Vann Taylor, Physical Education

Mr. Taylor became a member of the Root Family in 2018.  He grew up in Jacksonville, NC, and has been in Raleigh since he graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997. He was the PE Teacher at Timber Drive Elementary School in Garner, NC, for 14 years. In 2011, Mr. Taylor received his Masters of School Administration from North Carolina State University and served as an Assistant Principal at Timber Drive until he came to Root. He’s so excited to be back in the gym where he is able to work with and learn from all Root students. His goal is to help students understand the importance of physical activity in leading healthy, fulfilling lives, and he aims to make PE fun and meaningful for ALL kids.

 
You might catch Mr. Taylor on a tennis court in Raleigh or at the beach. He also enjoys spending time with his family, working in his yard, running with his dog, reading good books, and pulling for the Tar Heels!