The Suzuki School is one of the oldest and most respected private preschools in the Southeastern United States.
1976: The Suzuki International Learning Center is founded by Marlene Lerer in collaboration with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the school incorporates the concepts Dr. Suzuki developed for music education into an early childhood curriculum. The first school opened on Andrews Drive as a preschool program for children ages three and above.
1977: Opens a new location on Cains Hill for Infant/Toddler program.
1982: Debra Markham, present Head of Schools, joins Suzuki staff.
1984: Vacates original location and concentrates on a centralized school at Cains Hill.
1996: Expands its Cains Hill location to accommodate more students.
2001: Marlene Lerer relocates to Boston and Debra Markham assumes role of School Director.
2004: The school expands to Buckhead Avenue to support collaborative teaching in the Primary School.
2005: New Suzuki leadership team is created: Debra Markham (Head of Schools) with Paula Charles (Co-Director) and Robert Charles (CFO), both former Suzuki parents. Marlene Lerer joins Board of Directors of the school.
2007: The Suzuki Learning Center is renamed as The Suzuki School in recognition of a heightened focus on early childhood education.
2007: The Primary and Pre-Primary schools merge, along with the Infant/Toddler Program to the current state-of-the-art facility at 443 East Paces Ferry Road, approximately 1/3 mile east of the former Primary School.
2008: The Suzuki School opens a second campus at 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue. The Northside Campus, located in the annex of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue, is licensed for 187 students. (Although the school is kosher-sensitive and is closed for select high holidays, it does not have a religious orientation.)
2008: The school commits to an incorporation of more child-directed concepts into the curriculum, adapting important Montessori principles around self-mastery, creativity, and methodology.
2009: Marlene Lerer opens a Suzuki School in Boston. She remains involved in an advisory capacity and as a member of the Board of Directors of The Suzuki School in Atlanta.
2009: The Suzuki Schools obtained accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), making the school one of only 3% of all preschools that are SACS-accredited.
2010: The School receives accreditation from the Pan American Montessori Society and Debra Markham joins the advisory board of that institution.