Marifred Cilella

Marifred Cilella served as head of The Howard School in Atlanta from 2005-2022. Under her leadership, the school experienced a tremendous amount of growth and change, beginning with moving the campus across town, and all the way to the last $14.3 million capital campaign. The new location and larger facilities have allowed The Howard School to broaden its horizons and offer new programs.

Before moving to Atlanta, Marifred served as founding director of The Russel & Mary Williams Learning Project at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis. She began her career in administration at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, SC, first as lower school principal, and ultimately, as associate head for finance and operations. Prior to those positions, she was a teacher, consultant, continuing education director for the American Association of Museums, and she served on the White House domestic affairs staff.

Marifred has held a variety of leadership positions in the independent school community. In addition to serving on the SAIS Board of Trustees, she served as a board member of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), the International Dyslexia Association-Georgia (IDA-GA), and as a member of the Advisory Council of the Disabilities Ministry of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. She served as on the Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools Executive Committee, including as president. She was the president of the Georgia Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (GAPSEC), has been recognized on numerous Who’s Who lists, is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, served on the Atlanta Beltline Planning Committee, and is a current member of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta. Currently, Marifred is a member of the Skyland Trail Adolescent Campus Advisory Council, and the Youth Villages Capital Campaign Steering Committee. She is also a trustee on the Board of Christ the King School in Atlanta.

DSA Presentation Video: https://vimeo.com/684756608/64a6b57bcd