Najat Blanton recently moved to the Raleigh area after being born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Blanton graduated from Georgia State University in 2017 and spent the last two school years teaching 5th grade in the Metro Atlanta area. Some things that she enjoys most are: coffee, her pit bull named Jackson, a good TV show or documentary, and spicy food. She is so excited to join the Hortons Creek community!  

Makayla Brannen is a fifth grade English Language Arts & Social Studies teacher at Hortons Creek! Ms. Brannen graduated from Iowa State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and endorsements in English/Language Arts and Reading. This is her first year at Hortons Creek. She  moved to North Carolina this summer from Iowa, where she taught fifth grade for four years. In addition to teaching, she loves to read, spend time with family and friends, and take trips to Target. She is so excited to be a Hawk and is looking forward to a great school year!! 

Kim Collins is excited to start her 3rd year at Hortons Creek Elementary School and her 16th year in Wake County. Mrs. Collins is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Gardner Webb University with a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Collins is very passionate about equity in education, taking risks, try new things, giving her students a voice and choice in the classroom, using technology and having fun in the classroom. When not at school, Mrs. Collins enjoys spending time with her husband and son! She looks forward to a fantastic 2019-2020 school year! 

Latiqua Dortch is excited to begin her 2nd year as a Hawk at Hortons Creek, 8th year in the classroom, and 4th year teaching 5th grade. Ms. Dortch earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from North Carolina Central University (GO EAGLES!), an AIG Licensure Certificate from Duke University, and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University. Ms. Dortch is well known for the strong and fun relationships she builds in the classroom with students and parents and continues to reflect on how to make them even stronger. She enjoys cooking (eating!), shopping, and spending time with family and friends.

Bria Wright is excited to begin another year in fifth grade at Hortons Creek! Mrs. Wright is passionate about creating inclusive learning spaces for all students for utilizing culturally responsive pedagogy and social justice education. She is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University's graduate program in new literacies and global learning with a focus in K-12 reading. There's no other job she would have than teaching--unless Beyonce needed a new personal assistant! She loves spending quality time with her husband and their busy and sweet toddler. He keeps them very busy! She is looking forward to a great year of doing school different!