Meredith Anderson
Third Grade
Meredith has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University. In addition to extensive work as an environmental engineer for the US Environmental Protection Agency, Meredith has tutored students in math for many years. Meredith joined Cliff Valley in 2007.

Lori Austin-Cruse
Second Grade
Lori received her B.A. in English and Psychology from King College and her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University. She joined the Cliff Valley staff in 2001 and has taught first, second and third grades.  

Katie Beckstrom
Fifth Grade
Katie received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, and she also has Gifted Certification. Katie has taught kindergarten, fourth and fifth grades in Atlanta since 1997. She joined Cliff Valley's elementary faculty in 2006.

Susan Berry
First Grade
Susan received an A.B. in Psychology from Smith College and an MSW from Tulane University. Susan became a member of our staff in 2001 and has served as an assistant in the first grade class.

Sophie Brym
Second Grade
Sophie graduated from the College of Wooster with a degree in International Relations. After graduation, she taught health education to grades Kindergarten through fifth, as an AmeriCorps member in Denver, Colorado. Currently, Sophie is enrolled in the master's program at Mercer University studying Early Childhood Education. 

Ann Marie Deen
Kindergarten
Ann Marie received a B.A. in Sociology from Richmond American International University, in London, England, and attended graduate school in Applied Anthropology at Georgia State University.  She holds a Montessori Teaching certificate from St. Nicholas Montessori Center in London, England.  She started teaching in 1997, taught Kindergarten at the Glenn School and joined Cliff Valley in 2005.

Judy Dyer
Fourth Grade
Judy has a B.S. in English Education from the University of Georgia and a M.A. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in children's literature from Wayne St. University in Detroit, Michigan. A veteran teacher, she has taught grades 2-8 in a variety of school settings. In 1993, she began teaching 5th and 6th grades at Paideia School where she later served as Elementary and Junior High learning specialist. She joined Cliff Valley's elementary faculty in 2007.

Meredith Hopkin
First Grade
Meredith received her B.S. in Applied Learning and Development, specializing in Social Studies, from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002.  She taught first grade in Meriwether County in 2003, substituted in various schools in Atlanta, including Cliff Valley, during the 2005-2006 school year, and became a permanent member of the staff in Fall 2006.  

Cheryl Keshner
Fourth Grade
Cheryl started her work with children as a pediatric Occupational therapist, practicing for 16 years before going back to school to get a degree in education. She started teaching in the Cliff Valley Elementary program in 2004.

Amanda Lockwood
Second Grade
Amanda received her B.A. in Sociology from Tulane University and her M.A. in Special Education from Georgia State University. She has taught classes for students with mild disabilities, grades K-8, in Cobb County, Fulton County, and Atlanta Public Schools since 1996. Amanda joined the Cliff Valley staff in 2005.

Diane Majerus
Kindergarten
Diane received her B.A. degree in Child Development with an emphasis in Child Mental Health at California State University, Northridge. Her MSW degree was received from the University of Washington in Seattle. Diane has been a staff member since 1994 and has taught both preschool and kindergarten classes.

Ann Meade
Third Grade
Ann received her B.S.in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina and her education degree from Kennesaw State. She has 10 years teaching experience working with children primarily in grades 4-6. Ann joined Cliff Valley in 2007.

Garn Miller
Kindergarten
Garn graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in Sociology.  In 2005 he substituted in our preschool and elementary classes, and assisted in the Elementary Aftercare Program. Garn is currently enrolled in the master’s program at Mercer University studying Early Childhood Education and became a permanent member of the Cliff Valley team in 2006.

Annie Strahan
First Grade
Annie's degrees include a B.A. in History, and an M.Ed. and Ed.S. in School Psychology. She is a Georgia Certified School Psychologist and has practiced in both public and private settings. Annie has taught preschool and early elementary education since 1993 and joined the Cliff Valley faculty in 1997. She has taught in both Kindergarten and 1st grade since 2000.

Erica Turner
Instructional Specialist/Reading
Erica received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Georgia and her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University.  After teaching in DeKalb County, she joined the Cliff Valley Staff as a kindergarten teacher in 1978.  Erica has taught all levels of preschool, kindergarten, first, and second grade.

Elizabeth Williams
Third Grade
Elizabeth received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Appalachian State University. She has instructed children in art camps and summer camps for many years. Elizabeth has been a classroom teacher for six years in pre-kindergarten through third grade and joined Cliff Valley in 2004.