Stepping Stone Montessori School (SSMS) is owned and operated by Nikhil & Aparna Banka, a husband and wife team. Nikhil and Aparna have both obtained Masters Degrees and have varied management and operations experience. They have a 4 year old son, Shaan, who currently studies in a Montessori school. Their goal as founders is to be able to relax at the end of each day, satisfied knowing there are happy children who are progressing well and whose parents feel comforted by the quality of education that they are receiving. SSMS is a tribute to Aparna’s younger brother, Uday, who is unfortunately no longer with them. Uday means “to rise” and the Banka’s both wish for their school to rise and provide a great foundation to each child who enters the school’s doors. SSMS campuses consist of programs for children aged six weeks through 6 years, with plans for expansion into the elementary years. Large classrooms and outdoor play areas complement one another as learning is integrated across all environments. SSMS will also provide various quality enrichment programs. In keeping with the Montessori education method, we will have outdoor classrooms where children will have the opportunity to plant flowers and vegetables and learn about the importance of stewardship in caring for the earth as the source of our food. The school is working towards AMI accreditation. Our Cumming campus is located at 820 Sanders Road in Forsyth County, which is at the intersection of Buford Dam Road and Sanders Road. The school is easily accessible from GA-400 and is also located only 1.5 miles from the Northside Hospital Forsyth. Our Sugar Hill campus is located at 65 Peachtree Industrial Blvd in Gwinnett County, which is just north of Suwanee Dam Road. The school is easily accessible from I-85 and is just five minutes from the Suwanee Town Center. To accommodate the long and late working hours of our diverse parents, we operate Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM.