Steps to Success Early Learning Center
Steps to Success Early Learning Center, 18 Quarry Rd, Leola, PA 17540
About
Steps to Success Early Learning Center is a non-profit, Christian day care center that focuses on building character before academic achievement. The program emphasizes respect for all living things, taking responsibility for actions, and reaching goals in a safe, well-defined, and nurturing environment for children and staff. The center includes separate infant/toddler and preschool/school-age playgrounds, as well as a Memorial playground envisioned with donations made in memory of Anne Persons Robinson.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
Steps to Success was incorporated in January 1995 as a not-for-profit educational institution and began serving the Leola community on September 19, 1995 in the basement of the Upper Leacock War Memorial Building. On July 5, 2000, the program began child care in the Upper Leacock Township Building with 96 children enrolled. In 1999, it received a grant to develop separate infant/toddler and preschool/school-age playgrounds, and in 2006 a Memorial playground was envisioned with donations made in memory of Anne Persons Robinson. In January 2001, the Board of Directors voted to add a Christian curriculum. In March 2021, the child care center relocated to the Education Wing of Zion Lutheran Church. As of August 2022, Steps to Success opened a fifth school age program in Donegal School District.
The co-founders of Steps to Success were Michelle Straw and Chris Lawson. The founders, staff, and board members have committed to constant and never-ending improvement of the center and its personnel, with a stated goal to improve what they do and how they do it by 1% every day. The program’s mission states that Steps to Success, Inc. was founded to invest in the future by nurturing children today, and that the founders believe children are best served when they are allowed to be children, with love before loose leaf, security before phonics, and fun before homework.
In 2007, PACCA named Pre-K teacher Mrs. Melissa Readman their Educator of the Year. In September 2011, Steps to Success was awarded a STAR 4 rating through the Keystone STARS quality initiative. A public private partnership with Conestoga Valley School District offers Pre-Kindergarten to 34 Conestoga Valley families, funded through the five-year Keystones to Opportunity grant starting in 2012–2013. In August 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Steps to Success added a partnership with Conestoga Valley School District to run before and after school programs in their elementary buildings, and by August 2022 it had opened a fifth school age program in Donegal School District. Steps to Success states that it is grateful for the support and cooperation of Conestoga Valley and Donegal School Districts.
One parent shared that their three children have gone through Steps to Success, with two starting in the Butterflies room and the youngest starting at 8 weeks old in the Happy Faces room, and said that the teachers are wonderful, care for all of the kids, and do an excellent job in preparing the kids for Kindergarten.
Last updated July 11, 2026.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
Steps to Success was incorporated in January 1995 as a not-for-profit educational institution and began serving the Leola community on September 19, 1995 in the basement of the Upper Leacock War Memorial Building. On July 5, 2000, the program began child care in the Upper Leacock Township Building with 96 children enrolled. In 1999, it received a grant to develop separate infant/toddler and preschool/school-age playgrounds, and in 2006 a Memorial playground was envisioned with donations made in memory of Anne Persons Robinson. In January 2001, the Board of Directors voted to add a Christian curriculum. In March 2021, the child care center relocated to the Education Wing of Zion Lutheran Church. As of August 2022, Steps to Success opened a fifth school age program in Donegal School District.
The co-founders of Steps to Success were Michelle Straw and Chris Lawson. The founders, staff, and board members have committed to constant and never-ending improvement of the center and its personnel, with a stated goal to improve what they do and how they do it by 1% every day. The program’s mission states that Steps to Success, Inc. was founded to invest in the future by nurturing children today, and that the founders believe children are best served when they are allowed to be children, with love before loose leaf, security before phonics, and fun before homework.
In 2007, PACCA named Pre-K teacher Mrs. Melissa Readman their Educator of the Year. In September 2011, Steps to Success was awarded a STAR 4 rating through the Keystone STARS quality initiative. A public private partnership with Conestoga Valley School District offers Pre-Kindergarten to 34 Conestoga Valley families, funded through the five-year Keystones to Opportunity grant starting in 2012–2013. In August 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Steps to Success added a partnership with Conestoga Valley School District to run before and after school programs in their elementary buildings, and by August 2022 it had opened a fifth school age program in Donegal School District. Steps to Success states that it is grateful for the support and cooperation of Conestoga Valley and Donegal School Districts.
One parent shared that their three children have gone through Steps to Success, with two starting in the Butterflies room and the youngest starting at 8 weeks old in the Happy Faces room, and said that the teachers are wonderful, care for all of the kids, and do an excellent job in preparing the kids for Kindergarten.
Last updated July 11, 2026.
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