TEACHER
Megan Angiulo, BA
“My favorite teacher: Mrs. Joyce Deen Kindergarten and 1st grade teacher. Mrs. Deen made my first experience in a classroom exceptional. I left her class feeling confident, capable, and loved!”
At a very young age, Megan learned firsthand the benefits and characteristics of great teaching. Her mother was an elementary teacher that poured her heart and soul into making learning meaningful and enjoyable for children. Witnessing her mom’s enthusiasm for teaching and the positive impact on her students was the beginning of Megan’s commitment to be an educator making a difference in the lives of children and families. Megan earned her B.A. from Piedmont College in early childhood education. She has taught for 5 years in both public and private elementary settings. Megan’s own passion for yoga led her to become a registered yoga teacher so that she could to share that passion with children. Additionally, Megan is committed to weaving nature into her students’ learning, all the while helping students understand their influence on the world and promoting sustainability for the future.
Daniel Bass, MA
“The most influential teacher in my life was Dr. Annette Parrott who taught me high school biology. She invited us to explore, question, and move through the world seeing it as more wondrous than we had previously realized. She made learning exciting and fun!”
Daniel Bass is an Atlanta native and a lifelong lover of learning! His undergraduate degree is in Spanish from Georgia State University. Daniel loves seeing boundaries between people traversed as linguistic and cultural connections are made. He has spent over a decade tutoring and teaching Spanish, English, and American Sign Language at the pre-k, elementary, and high school levels in the Greater Atlanta Area. After finishing his Master’s of Ministry degree from Richmont Graduate University in 2014, he began working as a youth pastor at a local church parish in Oakhurst. Continuing to pursue his love of helping light bulbs go off for students of all ages, Daniel has come to Hess Academy and is delighted by the collaborative, inclusive, and dynamic environment of the school! He is energized by encouraging young learners to explore their world and the world of others with wonder and compassion. When not at Hess Academy, Daniel reads voraciously (mostly theological nonfiction and fantasy novels), runs and practices yoga, and sings an alarming amount of the time.
TEACHER
Parent Testimonials
A private school for pre-k through 8th grade | Decatur, GA
David goldstein
Criminal Defense Attorney
President
For the past ten years, David has represented clients in Atlanta as both a public defender and criminal defense attorney. David is active in the non-profit community and helps advise students seeking careers in the non-profit sector. David holds a Bachelors degree from Kenyon College and earned his law degree at Fordham University.
Michael Morrier
Senior Associate Faculty, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine
Vice President
Michael J. Morrier (Ph.D, BCBA-D) completed his doctorate in special education at Georgia State University with a focus on educational policy issues. He has worked with children with autism and their families for the past 25 years. Dr. Morrier currently consults to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an expert clinical reviewer for their Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Dr. Morrier has co-authored several journal articles and book chapters on autism and childhood early intervention, including several articles with Dr. Hess on best practices used in public schools and disproportionate representation of ethnically diverse students with disabilities in public schools.
SARAH PIPER
Director of Training for the Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center at Emory University
Secretary
Sarah received a bachelor’s degree in human development from Arizona State University and a Masters degree in Public Health from Emory University in 1996. Sarah is a certified diabetes educator and has spent the past 20 years helping people prevent or live healthy with chronic diseases. Currently, she designs and delivers health coach training on diabetes prevention nationwide and leads diabetes prevention groups. Prior to coming to Emory, Sarah has worked as a diabetes educator and health educator in a variety of settings including a local Atlanta nonprofit, Grady health system, a rural Navajo reservation in New Mexico, to name a few. Sarah is a frequent speaker at conferences and webinars on topics such as diabetes prevention, health literacy, improving patient-provider communication, facilitation skills, wellness topics and behavior change. In her free time Sarah enjoys writing children’s books for family and friends, and spending time outdoors with her family. Sarah is the parent of a Hess academy student who loves Hess because of the teachers and the “outside time.”
Renee Kimes
Owner Pregnancy Massage Center
Renee has spent 15 years dedicated to improving the lives of families and children. A massage therapist by training Renee has owned the Pregnancy Massage Center in Virginia Highlands since 2007. Her commitment to whole family wellness includes working as a doula, providing infant and adult massage, and educating and supporting families during significant life changes. Renee is excited to continue to support children and their families through her work on the Hess Academy Board.
JAMES TAYLOR
Owner Atlanta Pro AV
James is the owner of Atlanta Pro AV (APAV). Using his background as a professional touring musician, he developed an audio visual company that specializes in live production, integration, and design for corporate clients. He has been contracted by several institutions of higher learning (Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Kennesaw State, etc…) as a technology solutions provider. James loves the emphasis on individualized instruction and active learning at Hess Academy. He is very happy to be a part of the Hess community.