I am originally from Maryland and have 18 years of experience in education. This includes 14 years in the classroom and 4 years as a coach. I live in Fuquay with my husband and our two children. I have a daughter who attends South Lakes and a son who is starting his sophomore year in college.

My name is Magaly Alicea. I am excited to begin my journey at South Lakes Elementary with an amazing group of students, parents and teachers. I have been teaching in North Carolina for thirteen years. I received my Master’s in Literacy from UNC-Chapel Hill. I’ve always had a passion for reading and a love of books. Besides being a classroom teacher, I have also been a Literacy Coach, Reading Specialist, and ESL teacher. I am originally from Brooklyn, NY. My husband and I moved to NC about 15 years ago and we love it here. My parents are from Puerto Rico “La Isla del Encanto” (Island of Enchantment).

My HAPPY PLACE is the beach! I love spending time there with my family.  I enjoy working in the yard and tending to my farm animals.  

My name is Annie Burke and I am originally from Tipperary, in the sunny south east of Ireland. I moved to North Carolina in August of 2016 and have been teaching in WCPSS since then. In total, I have been teaching now for nearly 17 years and previously taught in Dublin, London, and Dubai. As you can tell I love to travel and experience different cultures. I moved here with my adorable mini-schnauzer, Truman. Named after The Truman Show- we all know who is boss in my house! ​I have a BSc in Applied Psychology, a PGCE in Education and a MEd. in Leadership and Management in Education

My role as an educator began early as the eldest sibling, whereupon I became a swimming teacher, life guard and later, a scuba diver.  Currently, my free time is spent together with family and friends enjoying the fun of cooking, gardening and traveling, making the world brighter. 

I enjoy spending time with my family.  I love to go camping, kayaking and anything outdoors.  

Hi South Lakes students and families! My name is Alex Waddell and I am so excited to be back at South Lakes for year 2! This is my second year with the Wake County school district, and I am honored to be part of your community. I grew up in Birmingham, AL, and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Science from Samford University and my Master’s Degree in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling from the University of Montevallo. My husband, Cass, and I relocated to Raleigh in 2022, and have greatly enjoyed exploring all of the fun things to do around town. We have a dog named Franklin, and love to spend time outdoors together. I am looking forward to a wonderful year full of learning, fun, growth, and working with the wonderful staff and students here at South Lakes!