Meet Our Remarkable Team!
How do we achieve the high goals we have for ourselves and our students? By hiring only the very best. Below you will find the most extraordinary teachers in the Triangle.
Dr. Kenneth A. Branch
Principal
Dr. Branch holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. He served as the principal of two elementary and two middle schools in the Wake County Public School System as well as director of the district’s middle schools. In 2012, Dr. Branch was Wake County’s Principal of the Year in 2012. Additionally, he has served as adjunct professor of educational leadership at North Carolina State University as well as executive coach for the University’s Northeast Leadership Academy. In this position, Dr. Branch provided real-time coaching to students who are completing internships in school administration and provided training and support for them as they moved into school leader positions.
Principal
Dr. Branch holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. He served as the principal of two elementary and two middle schools in the Wake County Public School System as well as director of the district’s middle schools. In 2012, Dr. Branch was Wake County’s Principal of the Year in 2012. Additionally, he has served as adjunct professor of educational leadership at North Carolina State University as well as executive coach for the University’s Northeast Leadership Academy. In this position, Dr. Branch provided real-time coaching to students who are completing internships in school administration and provided training and support for them as they moved into school leader positions.
Rebecca Flock
High School Life and Earth Sciences
Science Olympiad, Forensics, Middle Grades Sciences
Ms. Flock has a degree in Social Sciences from Washington State University with North Carolina teaching certifications in High School and Middle School Sciences, Exceptional Children, and Special Education. She has taught middle and high school sciences and mathematics for over 12 years in area public and private schools. At her schools, she pioneered clubs such as Science Olympiad, Forensics, Psychology and Science Fair. She uses inquiry-based learning and projects for strong student- centered learning. She joined Hopewell in 2013 and in her spare time raises 4 children and plays competitive volleyball year round.
High School Life and Earth Sciences
Science Olympiad, Forensics, Middle Grades Sciences
Ms. Flock has a degree in Social Sciences from Washington State University with North Carolina teaching certifications in High School and Middle School Sciences, Exceptional Children, and Special Education. She has taught middle and high school sciences and mathematics for over 12 years in area public and private schools. At her schools, she pioneered clubs such as Science Olympiad, Forensics, Psychology and Science Fair. She uses inquiry-based learning and projects for strong student- centered learning. She joined Hopewell in 2013 and in her spare time raises 4 children and plays competitive volleyball year round.
Cornelia Russo
Middle School Language Arts and High School English
Ms. Russo joins the Hopewell Academy family with twenty years of certified experience instructing students with a wide range of educational talents and learning challenges in grades 6-12. Her expertise includes identifying and addressing the needs of students, teaching them productive study skills, and improving their performance and confidence. Moreover, Cornelia has been a freelance writer for many North Carolina and out-of-state publications, a radio commentator, lecturer and curricula program writer. Among her interests are the great outdoors, writing, design, and history.
Middle School Language Arts and High School English
Ms. Russo joins the Hopewell Academy family with twenty years of certified experience instructing students with a wide range of educational talents and learning challenges in grades 6-12. Her expertise includes identifying and addressing the needs of students, teaching them productive study skills, and improving their performance and confidence. Moreover, Cornelia has been a freelance writer for many North Carolina and out-of-state publications, a radio commentator, lecturer and curricula program writer. Among her interests are the great outdoors, writing, design, and history.
David Traini
High School Math and Science, Middle School Math and Science, Latin
Mr. Traini is a graduate of Glassboro State College with a master's degree in educational administration and Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. He received his teaching certificates in science and physical science from Rutgers University. Before joining Hopewell, Mr. Traini was the assistant principal at a high school in New Jersey for 15 years. Impressively, Mr. Traini is a 14-time competitor on the game show Jeopardy. He is well known in our school community as a trivia expert. Mr. Traini has been with Hopewell since 2009. He regularly teaches summer sessions for students getting ahead by taking Calculus or Pre-Calculus. Mr. Traini joined Hopewell in 2009 and lives with his family in Cary.
High School Math and Science, Middle School Math and Science, Latin
Mr. Traini is a graduate of Glassboro State College with a master's degree in educational administration and Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. He received his teaching certificates in science and physical science from Rutgers University. Before joining Hopewell, Mr. Traini was the assistant principal at a high school in New Jersey for 15 years. Impressively, Mr. Traini is a 14-time competitor on the game show Jeopardy. He is well known in our school community as a trivia expert. Mr. Traini has been with Hopewell since 2009. He regularly teaches summer sessions for students getting ahead by taking Calculus or Pre-Calculus. Mr. Traini joined Hopewell in 2009 and lives with his family in Cary.
Ansor Lopez
English as a Second Language and Spanish
Mr. Lopez holds degrees from the National Pedagogical University of Honduras and the Catholic University of Honduras. He also studied Health Information Technology at Delgado College in Louisiana, and he has North Carolina certifications in Spanish and English as a Second Language. He has taught ESL at both high school and college levels in Honduras for over 15 years. Most recently, Mr. Lopez has been working as a translator, interpreter and language instructor in Mexico and the USA. Last year he worked as an ESL teacher in Franklin County Schools. Mr. Lopez and his beautiful family have fallen in love with Cary, and they look forward to contributing to the success and growth of the Hopewell family.
English as a Second Language and Spanish
Mr. Lopez holds degrees from the National Pedagogical University of Honduras and the Catholic University of Honduras. He also studied Health Information Technology at Delgado College in Louisiana, and he has North Carolina certifications in Spanish and English as a Second Language. He has taught ESL at both high school and college levels in Honduras for over 15 years. Most recently, Mr. Lopez has been working as a translator, interpreter and language instructor in Mexico and the USA. Last year he worked as an ESL teacher in Franklin County Schools. Mr. Lopez and his beautiful family have fallen in love with Cary, and they look forward to contributing to the success and growth of the Hopewell family.
Kristopher Hanks
Athletics Director and Physical Education and Health
Kristopher Hanks graduated in 2016 from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC with a dual-degree in Physical Education and Health with NC Teaching Certifications in PE and Health (K-12). Coach Hanks worked as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher with Wake County Schools for three years before arriving at Hopewell Academy. He has also spent time, nearly a decade, working with school-age children in both camp counseling and camp directing positions. Coach Hanks played collegiate soccer, football, and swimming. He continues to stoke his competitive fires by playing in several area adult sports leagues. When Coach isn’t teaching or playing sports, he spends as many hours as he can at home raising his son. He looks forward to using his content knowledge and passion for sports to create a vivacious athletic environment for the Tigers in the coming years.
Athletics Director and Physical Education and Health
Kristopher Hanks graduated in 2016 from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC with a dual-degree in Physical Education and Health with NC Teaching Certifications in PE and Health (K-12). Coach Hanks worked as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher with Wake County Schools for three years before arriving at Hopewell Academy. He has also spent time, nearly a decade, working with school-age children in both camp counseling and camp directing positions. Coach Hanks played collegiate soccer, football, and swimming. He continues to stoke his competitive fires by playing in several area adult sports leagues. When Coach isn’t teaching or playing sports, he spends as many hours as he can at home raising his son. He looks forward to using his content knowledge and passion for sports to create a vivacious athletic environment for the Tigers in the coming years.
Karen Daley
History
Karen Daley teaches Social Studies and Art at Hopewell Academy. She has been teaching at Hopewell since 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Daley has taught high school and middle school in California and Oregon. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Social Sciences and received her teaching credentials for secondary education from Concordia University, Irvine, CA. She is also a freelance writer, for local publications, and artist, completing many murals in the Triangle. Mrs. Daley moved to Cary, North Carolina thirteen years ago with her husband and three daughters. In her free time, Mrs. Daley loves to be outside. Originally from California, it is in her nature. She likes to run, and has completed four half marathons. You will find her walking her dogs around the town of Cary. Mrs. Daley also loves to spend time with her family watching movies, baking, or completing family projects.
History
Karen Daley teaches Social Studies and Art at Hopewell Academy. She has been teaching at Hopewell since 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Daley has taught high school and middle school in California and Oregon. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Social Sciences and received her teaching credentials for secondary education from Concordia University, Irvine, CA. She is also a freelance writer, for local publications, and artist, completing many murals in the Triangle. Mrs. Daley moved to Cary, North Carolina thirteen years ago with her husband and three daughters. In her free time, Mrs. Daley loves to be outside. Originally from California, it is in her nature. She likes to run, and has completed four half marathons. You will find her walking her dogs around the town of Cary. Mrs. Daley also loves to spend time with her family watching movies, baking, or completing family projects.
Tiffany Edwards
Administrative Assistant
As you enter Hopewell Academy, you will be greeted by the warm, friendly smile of Ms. Tiffany Edwards, our administrative assistant. Ms. Edwards holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Mount Olive. Ms. Edwards has sixteen years of teaching experience in the preschool setting. Her teaching experiences include Head Start, private and franchise childcare centers, tutoring, after-school programs and being a mother. As an educator, she believes in providing learning experiences that will enrich the students' development through a holistic approach. In her spare time, Ms. Edwards enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her adult daughter, Bria.
Tiffany Edwards
Administrative Assistant
As you enter Hopewell Academy, you will be greeted by the warm, friendly smile of Ms. Tiffany Edwards, our administrative assistant. Ms. Edwards holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Mount Olive. Ms. Edwards has sixteen years of teaching experience in the preschool setting. Her teaching experiences include Head Start, private and franchise childcare centers, tutoring, after-school programs and being a mother. As an educator, she believes in providing learning experiences that will enrich the students' development through a holistic approach. In her spare time, Ms. Edwards enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her adult daughter, Bria.