50 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Established as a progressive, cooperative preschool and kindergarten in 1966, Cliff Valley School has always nurtured confident, independent learners and responsible, caring members of the community.
More than 50 years later we’re sharing our expertise through the Cliff Valley Institute. Programs for educators and parents offer further understanding of social and emotional development throughout childhood and adolescent development, plus practical ways to implement this learning at home and in the classroom.
A quick glance at a page from an early CV parent handbook shows the consistency of our goals throughout the years.
Now, the community-at-large can learn why, and how, we’ve helped so many students go on to excel in school and life.
OUR GOAL FOR CHILDREN
To grow physically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially.
TO DEVELOP COMPETENCE, WORTH, AND RESILIENCE.
TO HAVE SELF-EFFICACY FOR POSITIVE LIFE DIRECTION AND INDEPENDENCE.
Meet the Team
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Michael Edwards, Ed. D.
Michael has experience teaching at all levels pre-kindergarten through college, and he has taught in independent schools overseas and in the U.S. 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 provides professional development for teachers and administrators and he regularly leads school accreditation teams for the Southern Association of Independent Schools.
Michael earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University. He also holds a B.A. and M.A. in Germanic Studies, a B.S. in Education, a M.A.E. in Educational Administration, and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. Michael joined Cliff Valley in 2004.
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Tamara Hamilton, LCSW, CMBT
DIRECTOR
Tamara Hamilton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health. For the past ten years, she has served on the administration team as school counselor and director of the Cliff Valley Institute at Cliff Valley School, a pre-K through 8 progressive independent school in Atlanta.
She focuses on issues impacting children’s well-being with a particular emphasis on integrating social and emotional learning into academic curricula.
Tamara earned her Master’s Degree from the Indiana University School of Social Work, and she holds a graduate certificate degree in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. Tamara is a frequent consultant and invited speaker regarding various child development topics. Her presentation style is informative, warm, and relatable as she combines her training in neurolearning, clinical professional experience, and personal stories as a mother of three.