Traci Arnemann is in her second year teaching at HCES. Ms. Arnemann had a wonderful first year as a Hawk and looks forward to another amazing year. She has been teaching for 15 years. She was born, raised, and completed her schooling/first year teaching in New York. She then moved to S. Florida. There, she married her husband, birthed two children Van, 8 and Alissa 5, and taught for 13 years. Summer of 2018 they moved to Wake County, NC. They are all very happy and proud being “half backs.” They have found their forever here in North Carolina.

Meghan Cutler was born and raised in Long Island, New York and moved to Massachusetts in 2007 to pursue my undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. After college, Ms. Cutler moved to Boston to complete her Masters degree in Education. She was a Special Education teacher for 7 years, before making the move down to Raleigh, NC this summer. In her spare time, she loves to read, run, travel to new places, and spend time with family and friends. This will be her first year at Hortons Creek and she is so excited to become a Hawk!

Jillian Jackson is an 8th year educator born in Winston-Salem North Carolina. She has taught both grades 2 and 3 (gifted and talented and all male). In her free time, she enjoys reading, coaching cheerleading, watching Steeler football, and spending time with her family. Jillian is a proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University where she received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Appalachian State University where she holds a masters in School Administration. “Educating students is truly my passion. It is my goal to be identified as the teacher that has children racing to school daily, excited and prepared to learn.”

Tania Knapp is originally from Mexico City. She attended Northern Kentucky University for her undergraduate degree and UNCW for her graduate degree in elementary education. She is ESL certified and loves to learn about her students and their families.  As her 15th year begins, she looks forward to building relationships that last beyond the school year. She is passionate about Positivity Project, where she has found the opportunity to teach beyond academics and learn about oneself and the power of positive psychology.

Ms. Knapp is the proud mother of a sixteen-year-old son, Mateo, and her daughter-year-old daughter, Sofia.  She enjoys traveling, reading, bujo journaling, watching movies, and learning new things. Ms. Knapp is looking forward to continuing to be part of a community where we try new things and learn with/from each other.

Abigail Offenbaker was born in Columbus, Ohio but has called North Carolina her home since 2004. Ms. Offenbaker received her B.A. in Psychology in 1998 from The Ohio State University. During this time, she was also a varsity member of the track and cross country teams. Shortly after graduation, she attended Ashland University, where she received her Teaching Certification. In 2000 (and for the next eight years), she taught middle school math in Ohio and North Carolina. She became a mom in 2008 (and again in 2009). In 2014, she started a personal training business (while home with my children) and worked as a Certified Personal Trainer for five years. In January of 2019, she stepped into a new role and helped finish the school year as a PE/Health teacher at Davis Drive Middle School. She is thrilled to be back in the classroom and to be joining the Hortons Creek Elementary staff as a third grade teacher! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and our sweet beagle. She continues to love all things fitness and have completed several Triathlons.

Nicholas Ronczka is excited to be at Hortons Creek! Mr. Ronczka graduated from N.C. State University in May of 2017 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education with a STEM concentration. He previously taught 3rd grade at AB Combs Elementary. He attended elementary school through high school in Johnston County, NC.

He spent a couple summers in Durham teaching 6th grade science to DPS students in a college bound program, Student U, which has truly shaped his mindset as an educator and gave him a foundation in restorative practices. His family and friends mean the world to him so he tries to spend as much time with them as possible. He feels truly blessed to be at Hortons Creek and cannot wait to get to know his amazing third graders!

Jessica Vasallo is so excited to be part of the Hawk family! This will be Ms. Vasallo’s 5th year teaching, and her third time teaching third grade. She just moved from Colorado, but grew up in Miami, Fl. She loves reading, cooking, and everything outdoors, hiking, biking, gardening and swimming. If she’s not crafting fun lessons and projects for school, you can find her doing one of those outdoor activities with her dogs...they have four BIG dogs, and two cats. She is so excited to explore North Carolina with her family, and to meet all of her new, wonderful third graders.