After taking the Montessori training and teaching for 17 years Pat Swann decided to open her own school. She found a home at North Bethesda United Methodist Church at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Lone Oak Drive. In 1981 she put up our sign and Lone Oak Montessori was underway.

Lone Oak continued to grow and by 1987, what started as one primary class, had now grown to two Primary classes and an Elementary class. We expanded even more in 1987 by leasing classroom space at another church in Bethesda. Between both locations the school had four Primary classes and an Elementary class, shortly there after we began our Toddler program.

In 1999, the Toddler and Elementary programs were moved to Potomac where the community of the Holy Resurrection Church on Democracy Boulevard in Potomac allowed us to erect two modular cottages of three classrooms on their property. We have had many lovely families and children become a part of our school over the past 30 years. We have received wonderful feedback on the kind of solid citizens our graduates are in their new schools and life situations. We look forward to continuing the tradition in the years to come.

In June 2010, Pat retired as Director and Eleanor Harris was named the new Director. Eleanor’s involvement with Montessori began many years ago. As a parent, Eleanor recognized the uniqueness of Montessori and sent her three children to Montessori Schools. Eleanor began her work with Lone Oak 18 years ago as a primary Montessori teacher. For the past seven years she has been working in our elementary as a language specialist/tutor.