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: The Suzuki School opens a new location on Cains Hill for Infant/Toddler program.
1982: Debra Markham, present Head of Schools, joins Suzuki staff.
1984: The Suzuki School vacates its original location and concentrates on a centralized school at Cains Hill.
1996: The Cains Hill location expands 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.
2013: The Suzuki School opens a teacher education institute on Pharr Road: The Montessori Teacher Education Institute at the Suzuki School.
2013: The Suzuki School announces the opening of its third location at the Ponce City Market in Midtown in Fall 2014.