Why We're the Best!

Stepping Stone was built on one mother’s persistent desire to make sure that her own children were getting the best possible early care and education. When she couldn’t find it anywhere in Austin in 1979, she took the bold step of opening her own school and Stepping Stone I was born. The organization has now grown to 18 schools, and Rhonda Paver’s passionate commitment to her core values – nurturing, loving care for each child; building trust and providing impeccable service to each family; insisting on quality and creating tools to measure it – has made Stepping Stone the clear choice for over 43,000 families who also want the best care and education for their children.

Just as a child goes through stages of development, learning and growing as she goes, the Stepping Stone organization has continued to progress and evolve. By keeping those core values as the foundation of the organization, Rhonda and her team of professionals have been able to expand to serve more families while maintaining the integrity of the original vision. Since opening Stepping Stone I, Rhonda earned her Master’s degree in Child Development, constructed an award-winning, evidence-based curriculum, implemented an exceptional employee training and professional development program, and designed a Quality Review system that insures the highest standards are met consistently on a day to day basis. The Stepping Stone business model – founded upon integrity, good stewardship, tough negotiating, and sound financial practices – means that families get incredible value for their investment. One can clearly see the culmination (for the moment!) of nearly three decades of experience in the recently opened School of Ideas and the School of Discovery, which are both awe-inspiring, state-of-the-art facilities where children thrive and flourish.

At Stepping Stone School your child’s experiences are at the heart of everything we do. Throughout every stage of learning, Stepping Stone School respects and values the individual child. Integrity and success are encouraged and supported daily. In every single Stepping Stone School, each and every day, we offer your child:

• The opportunity to feel secure by taking time to let your child know that he or she is listened to, cared for, and important.
• The opportunity to be challenged by promoting activities that will lead to problem solving in all areas (social, emotional, physical and cognitive).
• The opportunity to be creative by providing materials, activities, and guidance so that your child might develop his or her individual talents to their fullest potential.
• The opportunity to experience success and to be accepted by planning activities that are appropriate to your child’s developmental level, and by encouraging individual efforts.

Stepping Stone School is committed to nurturing and supporting children, families, and the community that surrounds us. That is our daily pledge to you, and here are some other folks and organizations that will back up our claim of being the best!