Michael Edwards
Head of School
Director of Elementary Learning
Michael has experience teaching at all levels pre-kindergarten through college, and he has taught in independent schools overseas and in the US. The experiences he collected teaching such a wide range of students provide him with a global perspective on the process of education and a strong understanding of how students learn and develop. Michael came to Cliff Valley from Park Tudor School in Indianapolis. Michael holds a BA and MA in Germanic Studies, a BS in Education, a MAE in Educational Administration, a MS in Curriculum and Instruction, and he is currently pursuing his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at Vanderbilt University.
Ann Gorelow
Director of Early Learning
A professional educator since 1971, Ann has held positions as Visiting Professor of Special Education at Wichita State University, Learning Abilities Consultant for a federal project in Early Childhood/Special Education, teacher trainer, parent educator and classroom teacher at the elementary, primary and preschool levels. Ann taught at Cliff Valley School and was the Director from 1985 – 2001. She holds a B.A. in Psychology (University of Florida) and a M.Ed. in Education Psychology (University of Miami).
Marcie Beskind
Director of Finance and Development
Marcie received her B.B.A. from Emory University and is a CPA. After working for various large corporations in finance and accounting, Marcie left the corporate world when her children were born and became the Director of Finance for Cliff Valley in 2002.
Jill Freeman
Director of Communications
Jill brings a strong background in marketing and communications to Cliff Valley School. With experience in the non-profit and healthcare industries her marketing communications skills include: public relations, marketing, event planning, and graphic design. Jill’s professional development includes a seat on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Chapter of the American Marketing Association and the Atlanta Chapter of the University of Florida Alumni Association. A graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, Jill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations with a Minor in Business Administration and joined the Cliff Valley Staff in 2006.
Dara Simmons
Operations Manager (Purchasing & Personnel, Preschool)
Dara has a B.A. in History and English from Emory University and a M.A. in History from the University of Michigan. She is a former text book writer/editor, worked as a claims auditor and trainer for Massachusetts Mutual, taught history at Gwinnett College and 2nd grade at St. Martin’s in Atlanta before coming to Cliff Valley in 2006.
Megan Vitale
Operations Manager (Admissions & Facilities, Elementary)
Megan has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut. Since coming to Atlanta in 1983, she has worked in the marketing communications field doing event planning, market research, advertising, and public relations. Megan was employed as a nanny for five years prior to joining the staff at Cliff Valley in 2002.
