In preparation of owning and operating Stepping Stones, both Dr. Anderson and Mrs. McDowell received formal degrees in early childhood education. Dr. Anderson earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She also received a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Mrs. McDowell earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Early Childhood Education from Texas A&M University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Both Dr. Anderson and Mrs. McDowell are trained specialists in infant/toddler care through Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE), an internationally known program. Both co-founders are also members of the National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC).