Suzuki School To Open Third Campus at Ponce City Market

Good stories never fade away.  And thirty-eight years after its establishment, The Suzuki School’s story will continue when it opens a third campus at Ponce City Market in August 2014.

The Suzuki story began in 1976, with a person and a vision. Atlanta businessman David Smith was seeking an educator to develop a school. When he found Marlene Lerer, a passionate early childhood educator, The Suzuki School was born. In collaboration with renowned music teacher Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the school was founded on Suzuki’s belief that every child is born with talent, and that it is the teacher’s job to draw that talent out. A child’s natural growth should be respected, Dr. Suzuki maintained, by guiding his or her natural curiosity and ability.

The School opened with six children in 1976, grew to two small locations by 1980, and today serves over 500 families at its two thoughtfully designed, SACS accredited Buckhead campuses.

Over time the Suzuki staff recognized that Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy (the purpose of education should be to develop a positive attitude of self worth and independence, which he refers to as a “noble heart”) struck a particularly harmonious chord with Dr. Maria Montessori’s ideas and methodologies for educating very young children. The School decided to adopt the Montessori approach, providing a thorough, high-quality methodology to accomplish its mission.

This collaboration between Suzuki and Montessori educational philosophies has produced a richer experience for children, and the collaborative approach has become the standard in Suzuki classrooms. Employing this innovative teaching design, teams of teachers serve to meet each child’s development through careful observation and by supporting each child’s natural learning style. The collaborative environment also provides children with multiple opportunities for interaction and cooperation, and allows them to develop a firm foundation of personal responsibility and social skills.

The Suzuki School is excited to bring its unique approach to early childhood education to families in the communities surrounding Ponce City Market!

For more information, email Kimberly Curtis at [email protected].