Early Learning Center

Shelly Platz, Director

Shelly is the founding director of Stepping Stones, Inc. On April 1, 1987, she took over the Infant and Toddler Centers which were run by The University of Kansas. Before assuming that responsibility, she was a teacher’s aide and then lead teacher in the infant and toddler classrooms for 7 years. Shelly has a BA in Human Development and Family Life with a minor in Psychology from KU. She is a life-long resident of Lawrence.

Shelly has a passion for children and wants Stepping Stones to be a “home away from home” for each child enrolled at the center. She is committed to working in partnership with staff and parents to provide the best loving and learning environment for the children in her care. She believes that if all developmental needs are met, each child can reach their fullest potential and be successful in life.

 Amanda is the Assistant Director of Stepping Stones, she started on July 15th, 2024. Before coming here to Stepping Stones she started teaching early education in 2013 and has taught at a few different settings with ages infant - 12years since then, most recently she was the director and toddler lead teacher at a small center here in Lawrence. Amanda went to went to community college for a few semesters and plans to go back to school to finish her Child Development Associates degree.