Hello, my name is Amanda Walley and I am a first grade teacher at River Oaks Academy in Charlotte, NC. I taught third and first grade at Pawtuckett Elementary for nine years before taking on the exciting challenge of helping open River Oaks Academy. I am originally from Stanley, NC and live there now. Although I am from North Carolina, I moved to Fairbanks, Alaska shortly after graduating from high school and lived there for 13 years. Then, I moved to Dillon, Montana where I completed my degree in education. I am a mother of a fifteen year old son. This gives me some insight into the wants and needs of the parents of my students because I have similar ones for my son. I enjoy being a first grade teacher and assisting my students to reaching their full potential.