FACULTY DIRECTORY

Administration – (919) 715-3690

Kevin Piacenza | Email | Ext. 101

Kevin received his B.A. in Geology from UNC-CH and his M.Ed. in Science Education and Administration from NCSU. After several years working in the WCPSS as a teacher, coach, and administrator, Kevin joined the EMS staff in 1997.
Mary Margaret Moffitt | Email | Ext. 102

Mary Margaret Moffitt is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, MA where she received a B.A. in Public Relations/Advertising. She joined Exploris in July of 2010.

6th Grade Faculty – (919) 715-3690 Ext. 105

Helene Elliston | Email

Helene earned her bachelor's degree in Food Sciences & Nutrition - specializing in Dietetics and her Masters in Business Administration from McGill University, in Montreal, Canada. She worked for many years in the food & pharmaceutical industry. After completing the NCTeach program at UNC-CH, she began her teaching career. Helene has taught 6th, 7th & 8th grade at Exploris. She currently teaches 6th Grade & coaches the newly formed QUIZ BOWL team.
Leah Perry-Lawless | Email

Leah Perry-Lawless holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She also earned a Master's in Education from North Carolina State University. She is certified in Social Studies and Math. Leah has been at EMS since 1999.
Juliana Thomas | Email

Juliana Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in Bogota, Colombia. She also completed a Masters Degree program in Biology-Herpetology at the Universidad de los Andes, in Bogota Colombia. She moved to the United States in 1997, and completed her Teaching Licensure at NCSU. She has been teaching for 25 years, in Colombia and in the USA, but also worked as a biologist at Crocodile Farms in Colombia. She has now been teaching 6th grade at EMS for 11 years.
Andrea Wallenbeck | Email

Andrea Wallenbeck earned her BS in Elementary Education and International Studies from Houghton College,a liberal arts institution nestled in the rolling hills of New York. Her teacher internships included experience in rural poverty to the extreme diversity of an international school in East Africa. Her first five years teaching found her busy and happy working in both large public and small private schools in Northern Virginia. After a year sabbatical in Guatemala, Andrea and her husband relocated to Raleigh. She joined the sixth grade team at EMS in 2006 and has been a language arts lead on the team. Her other interests include art, hiking, and kissing her baby girl.

7th Grade Faculty – (919) 715-3690 Ext. 113

Arielle Angle | Email

Arielle Angle graduated with honors from North Carolina State University where she received a BS in Middle Grades Education with a concentration in language arts and social studies. Arielle has been at EMS for four years.
Meredith Cheetham | Email

Meredith Cheetham is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education with a minor in Anthropology. This is Meredith's third year teaching at Exploris and she is currently working on her Master's Degree in Middle Grades Mathematics Education at East Carolina University.
Cyndi Lynn | Email

Cyndi Lynn has been a one-on-one adaptive coordinator for a current 7th grade student for the past 6 years. Prior to entering the education field, she was a stay-at-home mother. Cyndi is a native of Raleigh and is married to Vic Lynn, also a Raleigh native. They have 3 children, Leah (23) Andrew (13, EMS 8th grader) and Emily (10). They also have 2 grandchildren. She is an avid reader, loves watching movies, having family game night and playing with her grandchildren. Cyndi loves the energy of the classroom.
Sonja McKay | Email

Sonja McKay is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Mathematics. She earned a MEd in Middle Grades Mathematics Education from UNC Chapel Hill. She earned her undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Mathematics and Science Education as a Teaching Fellow at Appalachian State University. In 2010, Sonja completed a two year Kenan Fellowship during which EMS students piloted STEM curriculum related to sustainability, consumerism, and packaging. Before moving to Raleigh in 2004, Sonja taught sixth grade mathematics and science in Guilford County.
Karen Rectanus | Email

Karen Rectanus came to Exploris when it opened in 1997. Originally from Texas, she moved to Tripoli, Libya as a teenager and attended schools in Vienna, Austria and Istanbul, Turkey. She has degrees from the Universities of Wisconsin and Kentucky and has taught in Saudi Arabia, England, and Spain. She is certified in language arts, social studies, middle school education, and German.

8th Grade Faculty – (919) 715-3690 Ext. 119

Devon Banks | Email

Devon Banks earned her BS in Middle Grades Education from North Carolina State University. She is certified to teach Language Arts and Social Studies in sixth-ninth grades. Devon is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in New Literacies and Global Learning with a concentration in Language Arts from North Carolina State University. Devon has been teaching at Exploris since 2008.
Shannon Hardy | Email

Shannon Russell Hardy is a graduate of James Madison University (B.S. Communication and Middle Grades Education) and East Carolina University (M.S.A in Educational Leadership). She just finished her 10-year renewal for National Board Certification - Young Adolescent Generalist. She is certified in language arts/reading (6-9), social studies (6-9), math (6-9), and gifted education (k-12) and holds a Principal's I License. She is most grateful that her work at Exploris has provided many incredible adventures including Japan, Belize, Yellowstone, Great Smokey Mountains, Pocosin Wildlife Refuge, and most recently Cape Lookout.
Frank McKay | Email

Frank has taught at Exploris Middle School for nine years. He began his teaching career as a high school math and physics teacher with the U.S. Peace Corps in Tanzania. After three and a half years with the Peace Corps, Frank trained and instructed for four years at the North Carolina Outward Bound School, an international leader in wilderness based experiential education. Frank holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy from Lenoir-Rhyne University and an M.S. in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University. Frank is a certified North Carolina environmental educator and was recognized as the 2008 NC Environmental Educator of the Year. Frank loves many things about teaching at Exploris, especially the opportunity to connect students with the local community and the outdoors.
Jenne Mondry | Email

Jenne Scherer Mondry holds a Language and Literature degree from North Carolina State University. She also earned a Master of Science in Teaching degree from the New School for Social Research in New York. Jenne is a National Board Certified Teacher. She is certified to teach Language Arts in grades sixth-twelfth and is also certified to teach middle grades math. Jenne spends time mentoring National Boards candidates and serves at the Yearbook Advisor, as well as the faculty representative to the Exploris Middle School Board of Directors.

Global Arts Faculty – (919) 715-3690 Ext. 109

Zach Angle | Email (Health & Well Being)

Zach Angle teaches Health and Well-Being. He earned a BS in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a concentration in Program Management from North Carolina State University.
Jamie Butler | Email (Art)

Jamie Butler has a Bachelors of Fine Art from Virginia Commonwealth University's Art School. She has taught art in Wake County Public Schools, The Raleigh School and Magellan Charter School. For ten years, Jamie was the art director at Arts Together in Downtown Raleigh. She serves as the art coordinator for Artsplosures Spring Festival. Jamie has taught at Exploris for three years.
Jackie Marcotte | Email (French)

Jackie Marcotte has a bachelor degree in Pure Mathematics and a teaching degree from l'Universite' de Montreal, Montreal, Qc, Canada. She has taught math both in French and English in Montreal, Maryland and North Carolina. Jackie is certified to teach both math and French in the state of North Carolina.
Laura Piraino | Email (Spanish)

Laura Piraino is a graduate of NC State University. She teaches Spanish and reading at Exploris Middle School. She currently holds a middle grades Language Arts/ Social Studies teaching certification. Laura is also enrolled in graduate school at North Carolina State University and is pursuing an advanced degree in New Literacies and Global Learning: Concentration K-12 reading. She holds a minor in Spanish and works as a guide in South and Central America leading high school Spanish Language Immersion Programs during the summer months.

Exceptional Children – (919) 715-3690 ext. 114

Mary Miller | Email

Mary Miller has been teaching for over twenty five years and has spent the past eight years at Exploris Middle School. Mary has an Associate's Degree in Human Development and B.S. in Early Childhood Development and Family Relations. Mary also has a Master of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Maine.