Educating gifted children requires
A specialized approach that differs significantly from the traditional classroom setting. Gifted and talented education programs stimulate and challenge these students’ unique abilities and potentials.
Dedicatedinstructors trained to understand gifted children are an essential component of these programs.
About Our Founder
Kiyo A. Morse, Founder
Mrs. Morse, who has been Head of School since its founding in 1981, holds BS and MS degrees in Population Genetics and Immunology from the University of California, Davis. Her experience as a research scientist at the University of California and with the Swiss National Red Cross in Bern provided her with the expertise to serve as a science mentor for gifted students in the Plymouth-Canton Schools. She served for three years on the steering committee of the Plymouth-Canton Association for the Academically Talented (PCAAT).
As a mother of three gifted daughters, she saw a need for programming that was not available to them through other schools. In 1981, she founded Steppingstone School for Gifted Education with the mission of giving gifted students an opportunity to have the type of school experience most other children have – with curriculum and pacing designed for them and delivered by teachers that understand them.
Further, she wanted gifted students to have an opportunity to develop friendships with other students their age. She had learned through experience and literature that gifted children need other children of similar intellect to provide the groundwork of similar interests and perspective, which are the basis for the development of satisfying relationships and friendships.
Having observed and listened to hundreds of students over the years, Mrs. Morse has gained deep insight into how gifted children think about themselves and their world. She helps shape each child’s Steppingstone experience to meet the child’s needs and goals.
In addition to all the responsibilities of daily and long-term school operations, she attends a wide variety of seminars and workshops on gifted education, nationally as well as locally. She is active with organizations focused on supporting gifted children and all of the areas of their development, and she is particularly interested in the social and emotional aspects of child development. Mrs. Morse currently serves as Secretary of the Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) and President of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS).
Personally, Mrs. Morse has also been active in the performing arts community. She was a violinist with the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra for over 25 years and served for six years as President of its Board of Directors.
Kiyo A. Morse, Founder
Mrs. Morse, who has been Head of School since its founding in 1981, holds BS and MS degrees in Population Genetics and Immunology from the University of California, Davis. Her experience as a research scientist at the University of California and with the Swiss National Red Cross in Bern provided her with the expertise to serve as a science mentor for gifted students in the Plymouth-Canton Schools. She served for three years on the steering committee of the Plymouth-Canton Association for the Academically Talented (PCAAT).
As a mother of three gifted daughters, she saw a need for programming that was not available to them through other schools. In 1981, she founded Steppingstone School for Gifted Education with the mission of giving gifted students an opportunity to have the type of school experience most other children have – with curriculum and pacing designed for them and delivered by teachers that understand them.
Further, she wanted gifted students to have an opportunity to develop friendships with other students their age. She had learned through experience and literature that gifted children need other children of similar intellect to provide the groundwork of similar interests and perspective, which are the basis for the development of satisfying relationships and friendships.
Having observed and listened to hundreds of students over the years, Mrs. Morse has gained deep insight into how gifted children think about themselves and their world. She helps shape each child’s Steppingstone experience to meet the child’s needs and goals.
In addition to all the responsibilities of daily and long-term school operations, she attends a wide variety of seminars and workshops on gifted education, nationally as well as locally. She is active with organizations focused on supporting gifted children and all of the areas of their development, and she is particularly interested in the social and emotional aspects of child development. Mrs. Morse currently serves as Secretary of the Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) and President of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS).
Personally, Mrs. Morse has also been active in the performing arts community. She was a violinist with the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra for over 25 years and served for six years as President of its Board of Directors.
September, 2021, will begin David Liou’s first year of teaching Mandarin at Steppingstone. A native speaker, he employs an immersion approach and the integration of Chinese culture. He also brings with him his administrative experience at the Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), with which he has been involved since 2009. His involvement includes the planning, implementation, and management of multiple programs for Chinese American youth and digital literacy.
In 2011, as an ACA Youth Program Intern, Mr. Liou helped create new summer camp programs and provide oversight of youth-related programs such as Ping-Pong, Chinese yoyo, and cooking at the Chinese Community Center (CCC) and other sites in the Metro Detroit area. David has also been the Comcast Digital Connectors Program Facilitator for 8 consecutive years in which there were over 100 middle and high school graduates. In addition to his many roles in ACA, David has always provided technical support within the organization and especially since the start of the pandemic in supporting the transition of many events and programs online.
Mr. Liou comes with a passion for teaching in many forms and making it fun for the student. As Mr. Liou continues his passion for teaching Mandarin, he now also carries on the responsibilities as Head of School (2023). During his time as the Mandarin instructor and Director of Administration, he has recognized the importance of Steppingstone’s mission. He lives by the school’s mission and more importantly believes in the philosophy and values of Steppingstone.
September, 2021, will begin David Liou’s first year of teaching Mandarin at Steppingstone. A native speaker, he employs an immersion approach and the integration of Chinese culture. He also brings with him his administrative experience at the Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), with which he has been involved since 2009. His involvement includes the planning, implementation, and management of multiple programs for Chinese American youth and digital literacy.
In 2011, as an ACA Youth Program Intern, Mr. Liou helped create new summer camp programs and provide oversight of youth-related programs such as Ping-Pong, Chinese yoyo, and cooking at the Chinese Community Center (CCC) and other sites in the Metro Detroit area. David has also been the Comcast Digital Connectors Program Facilitator for 8 consecutive years in which there were over 100 middle and high school graduates. In addition to his many roles in ACA, David has always provided technical support within the organization and especially since the start of the pandemic in supporting the transition of many events and programs online.
Mr. Liou comes with a passion for teaching in many forms and making it fun for the student. As Mr. Liou continues his passion for teaching Mandarin, he now also carries on the responsibilities as Head of School (2023). During his time as the Mandarin instructor and Director of Administration, he has recognized the importance of Steppingstone’s mission. He lives by the school’s mission and more importantly believes in the philosophy and values of Steppingstone.
September, 2021, will begin David Liou’s first year of teaching Mandarin at Steppingstone. A native speaker, he employs an immersion approach and the integration of Chinese culture. He also brings with him his administrative experience at the Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), with which he has been involved since 2009. His involvement includes the planning, implementation, and management of multiple programs for Chinese American youth and digital literacy.
In 2011, as an ACA Youth Program Intern, Mr. Liou helped create new summer camp programs and provide oversight of youth-related programs such as Ping-Pong, Chinese yoyo, and cooking at the Chinese Community Center (CCC) and other sites in the Metro Detroit area. David has also been the Comcast Digital Connectors Program Facilitator for 8 consecutive years in which there were over 100 middle and high school graduates. In addition to his many roles in ACA, David has always provided technical support within the organization and especially since the start of the pandemic in supporting the transition of many events and programs online.
Mr. Liou comes with a passion for teaching in many forms and making it fun for the student. As Mr. Liou continues his passion for teaching Mandarin, he now also carries on the responsibilities as Head of School (2023). During his time as the Mandarin instructor and Director of Administration, he has recognized the importance of Steppingstone’s mission. He lives by the school’s mission and more importantly believes in the philosophy and values of Steppingstone.
Meet our Instructors
One of the first roles of the faculty staff is identifying gifted children. They are trained to recognize the signs of a gifted child, such as advanced language skills, exceptional problem-solving abilities, or a deep understanding of complex concepts.
Shari Dudek, Classroom Teacher
Shari Dudek is a veteran Steppingstone teacher who taught an elementary classroom in 1995 for about 4 years before taking a leave of absence to become a full-time Mom. Since she missed teaching, Mrs. Dudek eventually became an evening/weekend demonstrator for Stampin’ Up!, a rubber stamping and paper crafting company, which allowed her to remain an at-home mom as well. Being a big fan of “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter,” she also taught several popular Steppingstone Summer Camps with these themes in the interim years.
She loves the outdoors, especially hiking and rustic tent camping, often accompanied by her dog, so she is always planning her next camping road trip as well. Most of her summers are filled with road trips to national parks and camping trips with friends and family.
Shari stayed in touch with Steppingstone over these years as a Substitute Teacher and as a guest at staff events. In the Spring of 2012, she returned to teach at Steppingstone for another 4 years as our Elementary classroom teacher. As her youngest child departed for college, the 2021-22 school year marked the beginning of Shari’s third “tour of duty” as a full-time Steppingstone teacher.
Shari Dudek, Classroom Teacher
Shari Dudek is a veteran Steppingstone teacher who taught an elementary classroom in 1995 for about 4 years before taking a leave of absence to become a full-time Mom. Since she missed teaching, Mrs. Dudek eventually became an evening/weekend demonstrator for Stampin’ Up!, a rubber stamping and paper crafting company, which allowed her to remain an at-home mom as well. Being a big fan of “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter,” she also taught several popular Steppingstone Summer Camps with these themes in the interim years.
She loves the outdoors, especially hiking and rustic tent camping, often accompanied by her dog, so she was always planning her next camping road trip as well. Most of her summers are filled with road trips to national parks and camping trips with friends and family.
Shari stayed in touch with Steppingstone over these years as a Substitute Teacher and as a guest at staff events. In the Spring of 2012, she returned to teach at Steppingstone for another 4 years as our Elementary classroom teacher. As her youngest child departed for college, the 2021-22 school year marked the beginning of Shari’s third “tour of duty” as a full-time Steppingstone teacher.
Meet our Part-Time Instructors
Part-time instructors play a significant role in gifted and talented education. They are specialized instructors who possess unique skills and expertise in specific areas, making them ideal mentors for gifted children.
Maya Sheth, Art Instructor
Maya Sheth graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a minor in Art and Design. She is a Steppingstone Alum and a lifelong artist, specializing in drawing, collage, and hand-painted custom sneakers through her art brand Mikrokustoms. Alongside her role as Steppingstone’s Art Instructor for the 2024-25 school year, Maya works as a Research Technician in a brain cancer research lab at the University of Michigan Medical School, with plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience.
Karen Schanerberger, Music Instructor
Karen Schanerberger has a Bachelor of Music degree from Wayne State University and is a trained Kindermusik Instructor. She began directing the Kindermusik program for Evola School of Music in 1998.
Prior to this, she taught at Steppingstone when her son was a member of the student body so she is familiar with the Steppingstone model of education. When Evola closed earlier in 2021, she founded Prelude Music Studio LLC, which is also located at PARC, and is returning as Steppingstone’s Music Instructor as well.
In the past, Mrs. Schanerberger has represented Kindermusik International as a curriculum writer, conference speaker, and educator.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gaming, crosswords, being owned by her cats, and playing with her granddaughters.
Karen Schanerberger, Music Instructor
Karen Schanerberger has a Bachelor of Music degree from Wayne State University and is a trained Kindermusik Instructor. She began directing the Kindermusik program for Evola School of Music in 1998.
Prior to this, she taught at Steppingstone when her son was a member of the student body so she is familiar with the Steppingstone model of education. When Evola closed earlier in 2021, she founded Prelude Music Studio LLC, which is also located at PARC, and is returning as Steppingstone’s Music Instructor as well.
In the past, Mrs. Schanerberger has represented Kindermusik International as a curriculum writer, conference speaker, and educator.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gaming, crosswords, being owned by her cats, and playing with her granddaughters.
Philip D. “Reef” Morse II, PhD, Computer Instructor
Dr. Morse received his BA and PhD from the University of California at Davis in Zoology. He then did four years of post-doctoral studies in Physical Biochemistry (2 years in Switzerland and 2 years at Pennsylvania State University). He was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Wayne State University, and was then recruited to run the electron spin resonance research lab in the MD-PhD program at the University of Illinois. After joining the Chemistry Department at Illinois State University to teach and do research for a number of years, he retired from ISU as a Full Professor in 2001 with over 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications to his credit. Since then, Dr.
Morse taught the Pre High School class at Steppingstone for two years and now teaches computer classes at Steppingstone, as well as math for grades 4-5. He has founded and is now developing the Steppingstone MAgnetic Resonance Training (SMART) Center as its Program Director. He has served on Steppingstone’s Board of Trustees since 1981 in various capacities. In addition, Dr. Morse runs Scientific Software Services, the world’s largest supplier of aftermarket software and hardware for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometers.
Philip D. “Reef” Morse II, PhD, Teacher and Computer Instructor
Dr. Morse received his BA and PhD from the University of California at Davis in Zoology. He then did four years of post-doctoral studies in Physical Biochemistry (2 years in Switzerland and 2 years at Pennsylvania State University). He was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Wayne State University, and was then recruited to run the electron spin resonance research lab in the MD-PhD program at the University of Illinois. After joining the Chemistry Department at Illinois State University to teach and do research for a number of years, he retired from ISU as a Full Professor in 2001 with over 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications to his credit. Since then, Dr.
Morse taught the Pre High School class at Steppingstone for two years and now teaches computer classes at Steppingstone, as well as math for grades 4-5. He has founded and is now developing the Steppingstone MAgnetic Resonance Training (SMART) Center as its Program Director. He has served on Steppingstone’s Board of Trustees since 1981 in various capacities. In addition, Dr. Morse runs Scientific Software Services, the world’s largest supplier of aftermarket software and hardware for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometers.
Maestra Svitlana Shevchenko, Fencing Instructor (Upper Elementary & Pre-High School)
Maestra Svitlana (Lana) Shevchenko is a highly-credentialed fencing coach with over 20 years of successful coaching experience at the national and international level. Maestra Svitlana has specialized expertise in the athletic development and training of fencers at all age and skill levels, from children to elite international fencers. Her professional background transcends fencing; in fact, Maestra Svitlana holds a law degree from the Open International University of Human Development “Ukraine.”
Ian Rozich, Fencing Instructor (Early Elementary)
Ian Rozich started fencing in 2009. He fenced for Michigan State University where he was captain of the epee team and captain of the Men’s Team.
Ian soon realized that he was primarily interested in coaching and became actively involved in teaching beginner classes. In addition to foil, Ian currently teaches the Epee Adult class. He serves as the club’s armorer and is currently training to take his USFCA Moniteur test in epee.
Ian is the personal footwork coach of Veteran epee fencer Liz Kocab, 9-times World Epee Champion. He enjoys baking and reading in his free time.
Ian Rozich, Fencing Instructor (Early Elementary)
Ian Rozich started fencing in 2009. He fenced for Michigan State University where he was captain of the epee team and captain of the Men’s Team.
Ian soon realized that he was primarily interested in coaching and became actively involved in teaching beginner classes. In addition to foil, Ian currently teaches the Epee Adult class. He serves as the club’s armorer and is currently training to take his USFCA Moniteur test in epee.
Ian is the personal footwork coach of Veteran epee fencer Liz Kocab, 9-times World Epee Champion. He enjoys baking and reading in his free time.
Administrative Profiles
The administrative staff provides support to design and implement a curriculum that caters to the unique learning needs of gifted children.
Jason Roder, General Assistant, IT Specialist
Mr. Roder graduated with a BS in computer science from Wayne State University. In addition to maintaining all databases, he also assists with office and facilities tasks. He is an alumnus of Steppingstone and Cranbrook.
Jason Roder, General Assistant, IT Specialist
Mr. Roder graduated with a BS in computer science from Wayne State University. In addition to maintaining all databases, he also assists with office and facilities tasks. He is an alumnus of Steppingstone and Cranbrook.
Keiko Morse Woods, Faculty Chair
Mrs. Woods is a graduate of Steppingstone. In addition to her MA in School Administration from the University of Phoenix, she received her BA and teaching certificate from Hope College in Holland, MI where she majored in science and math, earned her teaching certificate, minored in fine arts, and was named to the Dean’s list for four years of her attendance.
Her college curriculum was supplemented with dance (ballet, jazz, and ballroom), theatre management and technical assistance, intramural sports, and responsibilities as a resident assistant for three years in her dormitory. In 1994, she developed the Steppingstone Summer Day Camp program and directed it for 10 years.
She joined the Steppingstone faculty in 1998 and taught for three years before accepting the challenge of a grade three and four classroom in Savoonga, a northern Alaskan town on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Straits.
While there, Mrs. Woods served as the chair of the School Improvement Committee, Senior High School Advisor, Cross Country Ski Team Coach and Volleyball Team Coach. In 2003, she returned to teach the Pre High School class at Steppingstone. She currently serves as Steppingstone’s Faculty Chair and ISACS Committee Chair. She engages in various hobbies such as kayaking, reading, cross-stitching, and gardening.
Keiko Morse Woods, Faculty Chair
Mrs. Woods is a graduate of Steppingstone. In addition to her MA in School Administration from the University of Phoenix, she received her BA and teaching certificate from Hope College in Holland, MI where she majored in science and math, earned her teaching certificate, minored in fine arts, and was named to the Dean’s list for four years of her attendance.
Her college curriculum was supplemented with dance (ballet, jazz, and ballroom), theatre management and technical assistance, intramural sports, and responsibilities as a resident assistant for three years in her dormitory. In 1994, she developed the Steppingstone Summer Day Camp program and directed it for 10 years.
She joined the Steppingstone faculty in 1998 and taught for three years before accepting the challenge of a grade three and four classroom in Savoonga, a northern Alaskan town on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Straits.
While there, Mrs. Woods served as the chair of the School Improvement Committee, Senior High School Advisor, Cross Country Ski Team Coach and Volleyball Team Coach. In 2003, she returned to teach the Pre High School class at Steppingstone. She currently serves as Steppingstone’s Faculty Chair and ISACS Committee Chair. She engages in various hobbies such as kayaking, reading, cross-stitching, and gardening.
JoAnn Munson, Bookkeeper
JoAnn Munson has been working part time as Steppingstone’s Bookkeeper for about 10 years.
JoAnn Munson, Bookkeeper
JoAnn Munson has been working part time as Steppingstone’s Bookkeeper for about 10 years.