Our Journey
From one campus in the Crestview neighborhood to 20+ schools across Central Texas, here are a few milestones from more than 45 years of early care and education.
The First Stepping Stone School
The Paver family opens the first school in Crestview, living on one side of the house with the school on the other.
Our First School Built From the Ground Up
On former ranch land on McNeil Drive, we design and build our first campus. It opens at full capacity.
A Master’s in Child Development
Rhonda earns her master’s degree in Early Childhood from the University of Texas at Austin while leading the school’s growth. She has also been designated a Distinguished University of Texas Alumnus.
The Roots of VerifiED™
We create our own Quality Review program, the foundation of today’s VerifiED™ Quality Assurance Program.
Growing Beyond Austin
Our University campus in College Station becomes our first school outside the Austin metro.
Kids’ K Sponsor
We become sole sponsor of the Kids’ K at the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, benefiting Caritas of Austin.
Museum-Quality Learning
Our Round Rock campus becomes the first to include museum-quality exhibits and interactive displays.
Young Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists™
School-age students start businesses, sell what they make, and donate the profits, which we then match.
A National Cover Story
Rhonda and Stepping Stone School are featured in the January 2017 cover story of ChildCare Exchange.
Rhonda Paver Day
The City of Austin names March 23 Rhonda Paver Day, honoring 30 years on its Early Childhood Council.
Future Strong™ Classrooms
Major campus renovations bring new furniture, materials, layouts, and playgrounds built on our Future Strong™ approach.
Best Childcare in Austin
Named Best Childcare in Austin in the Austin American-Statesman Community Choice Awards.
Our Mission
Stepping Stone School is an organization of servant leaders dedicated to supporting the whole child, strengthening families, and maintaining high standards for early care and education, so children grow into resilient, successful lifelong learners.
Family Led, Every Day
Rhonda, Bill, and their adult children are active in daily operations. Rhonda’s guidance shows in the culture of stability she and her team create, where great ideas are rewarded and happy, engaged teachers lead engaged children.
Our Leadership
Rhonda represents the rare unity of passion, caring and logical decision-making that has led her to create this community where children learn and thrive, and educators are happy and excel in their work.
With a bachelor’s degree in history, philosophy, and theology, Rhonda is regarded as a leading expert in early childhood care and education. Rhonda earned her master’s degree in Early Childhood from the University of Texas at Austin while leading the school’s growth. She has also been designated a Distinguished University of Texas Alumnus. In 2011, the Governor appointed her as the only person in private business to the Texas State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. She is also a writer and speaker, having presented multiple times at the World Forum on Early Care and Education, and at the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s National Conference.
Her love of learning keeps growing stronger and she finds, as she interacts with them, some of her best teachers are the Stepping Stone children. She has taken what she has learned and made Stepping Stone Schools Central Texas’s largest privately-owned and most respected private preschool. Many of the programs she has developed are on the leading edge of the early care and education field nationally:
- Trademarked curriculum for all age levels
- Teacher training program, including ongoing continuing education
- VerifiED™ Quality Assurance system
- Platinum Leadership Education Program™
Lisa Kretzer is a Vice President and Regional Supervisor of Stepping Stone School. An Early Child Care professional who has been in the field for over 30 years and contributes her expertise to our leaders and families daily. Lisa has served as a validator for NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) ensuring Early Care and Education centers meet and exceed the highest standards.
She continues to hold our Stepping Stone School campuses to the highest level of quality. Lisa works closely with the State of Texas and Child Care Licensing to ensure we meet and exceed all regulations, continues to lead the team in the opening of new schools and continually trains our Leaders and expert educators.
During Lisa’s lengthy tenure with Stepping Stone School, she raised three children who have become outstanding adults and professionals.
Mary Paver is a Vice President and Regional Supervisor of Stepping Stone Schools. An Early Child Care professional, she has been in the field for over 20 years and contributes her expertise to our leaders and families daily.
She continues to hold our Stepping Stone School campuses to the highest level of quality. Mary works closely with the Campus Principals and has expertise in growing new leadership. Mary has contributed to Stepping Stone Schools since 1997 as a classroom teacher, Assistant Principal, Campus Principal and Area Supervisor. Mary has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in History.
Mary works diligently each day to enhance Stepping Stone School’s value proposition for caregivers, administrators, children and families.
Mary is the mother of four teenagers and loves the challenges and opportunities that each day presents!
Susan Brunk has a Masters Degree in Education. She taught children in both public and private elementary and early childhood settings for more than ten years before she made the transition to educating our teachers.
Since beginning her journey with Stepping Stone School over five years ago, Susan has written several portions of our Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum and has created valuable teacher education modules to improve the standard of education within our campuses.
Through her years of teaching, research, and raising four children of her own, Susan has obtained an invaluable understanding of developmentally appropriate practices which are demonstrated through her interactions with teachers and children on a daily basis.
Susan has created activities and lesson plans for all age groups that incorporate S.T.R.E.A.M. principles and character development.
Andrea Breen brings a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and a keen eye for detail, to her role as Director of Quality Assurance, Community Relations, and Accreditation Advisor.
With over 20 years of experience, she brings professionalism and enthusiasm everywhere she goes and ensures that Stepping Stone School delivers unparalleled excellence in all we do.
Emily is the Education and Culture Superintendent at Stepping Stone School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology. She began working at Stepping Stone School in 2016.
Emily believes all children and their families deserve the best high-quality care possible. Emily provides hands-on training to our educators and supports the ongoing implementation of curriculum. She also supplies learning material and ensures our high standards of safety and quality care occur every day.
Tyson Winkle, our School Age Director and Associate Vice President graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas with a 3.9 GPA in 2002 and started working for Stepping Stone School as a School Age teacher while attending college in November of 2000.
Tyson won the Stepping Stone School School Age Excellence Award in 2007 and was the named the Assistant Principal at our Teravista Campus when it opened in 2008.
He became the School Age Program Director in 2010, and an Associate Vice President in 2017.
Tyson crafts educational and engaging lesson plans for our school age children throughout the year. His personal classroom experience working with school age children makes him uniquely qualified to oversee this all important program
Tyson has also taken the lead in incorporating S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Relationships, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) into our Platinum Learning For LifeTM curriculum.
Acasha King serves as Associate Vice President with a focus on Leadership Development and Marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She has worked in the Early Childhood field for 21 years and has a passion and dedication to improving the lives of others.
Acasha oversees our Social Media and Marketing presence while also providing one-on-one leadership training and regularly produces a virtual newsletter for our staff.
Brandy is currently the Talent Specialist and H.R. manager as well as Associate Vice President. She holds an Associate’s Degree from Texas State, a CDA and is a graduate of the nationally recognized Stepping Stone School Leadership InstituteTM. She began working at Stepping Stone School in 2006 and believes that Stepping Stone School’s visionary approach inspires meaningful experiences while empowering children to be resilient and successful lifelong learners. Brandy held a Director position from 2009-2011 and was a Junior Site Supervisor from 2011 until 2015 when she moved into Human Resources and Talent Development for Stepping Stone School.