Dear Valued Stepping Stone School Families,

Twenty years ago, I hired a bright young man as a school age teacher at our Northcross campus. At the time, he was a Psychology undergraduate student at the University of Texas. His love for our students was evident from the start, even when I had to remind him to curb his enthusiasm when pushing the children on the swings.

This young man was Chris Lemons and he is now the newest addition to the Stepping Stone School Advisory Board. Chris is currently the leading researcher in the nation on Down Syndrome and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and a Member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. He holds a doctorate in Special Education and has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education to further his research.

Recently, Chris came to Austin to visit with us. We spoke at great length regarding language development and its correlation to brain development. We will be collaborating with Chris to incorporate the latest research into our curriculum and to provide our families with the highest degree of support in the education of their children.

Please join me in welcoming Chris Lemons, Ph.D. to our Advisory Board and thank him for his humble and caring disposition and the exemplary insight he will be sharing with Stepping Stone School.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Paver, M.A.

Founder and Executive Director