GARNER, N.C. — Authorities have arrested a parent they say embezzled thousands of dollars from a Triangle elementary school.

Garner Police say the president of the Vandora Springs Elementary School's parent-teacher organization stole nearly $2,000 from the group's fund.

The woman, Jennifer Porter, also worked as a teacher's assistant and her children attended the school.

Vandora Springs is keeping the matter quiet and Wake County School officials aren't saying much except to acknowledge that Porter resigned three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, she's pulled her kids from school and is nowhere to be found.

WRAL went to Porter's listed address on Chandler Ridge Circle in an effort to get her side of the story. No one answered the door.

Virginia Parker, who is president of the Wake County Parent Teachers Association, says typically PTOs operate more independently than PTAs, which have a system of checks and balances to guard against theft.

"It really just comes down to do you know the organization and using common sense to ask the questions," Parker said.