40 Years of MSLT
Welcome!
For over 40 years, The Montessori School at Lone Tree has nurtured children to grow into students with a love for learning and deep respect for life. Our school is knit together with experienced faculty and invested parents, creating a community that is dedicated to providing our children with exceptional educational opportunities.
At MSLT we embody peace, kindness, and respect for all living things as our foundational values. We believe in the capability and dignity of each child as supported by the Montessori Philosophy. Our mission is to create a welcoming, and collaborative environment where each child can discover their sense of purpose. Our Montessori curriculum allows for a personalized learning experience where children thrive based on their unique learning needs. Each student is challenged according to their abilities while working in a safe environment with high expectations, leading to continual progress and discovery.
MSLT holds these values today due of our rich history in Douglas County and the passionate vision of our founder Jean Pilon. We are delighted to be celebrating 40 years of operations in 2025 and to honor our school community. We invite you to help us celebrate by reading our story, exploring our photo archive, sharing your alumni story, or attending one of our anniversary events!
Our History
The Montessori School at Lone Tree was founded in 1985 by Jean Pilon as the first Montessori School in South Denver. Prior to the opening of MSLT, Miss Jean founded Creative World Montessori in LaGrange Park, Illinois, and The Montessori School at Castle Rock. Jean was a deeply passionate Montessori educator and visionary and was committed to the way the philosophy supports a child’s natural progression of learning.
The Castle Rock school was founded in 1975-1976 (yes!) with its humble beginnings in a rented one room classroom in Castle Rock’s swimming pool building. As her class grew, she purchased land for a new schoolhouse. She was a true renaissance woman, designing the building from the ground up using Montessori principles of ample space and light. In pursuit of this dream, Jean noted: “I borrowed money from every relative I could and hocked everything except my horse trailer.”
After this school’s success, many parents were commuting to bring their children to the Castle Rock School. She bought a small piece of land for MSLT in unincorporated Littleton, for which she fought tirelessly with council members, the county, and surrounding schools to prove the validity of her idea. The school you see today opened its doors in 1985, 10 years before Lone Tree itself would become incorporated! The school expanded in 1986 to the current four classroom configuration.
Legacy and Today
Jean was passionate, driven, and humble. She built her dream schools with the close support of friends, parents, and family and valued the intentionality of the way the space was built. She cared incredibly deeply about the growth, happiness, and accomplishments of each child, something we strive to carry on today.
In 1996, Jean started a Montessori charter school, the Douglas County Montessori School, with guidance and support from several families from the Lone Tree and Castle Rock Montessori community. The DCS Montessori school is still running as a charter school serving pre-K to eighth grade: https://www.dcsmontessori.org/
MSLT has educated 4,000+ students ages 2.5-6 over its 40 years. Today, the School continues its mission of providing high quality Montessori education to students and Lone Tree families. We have a flourishing school of four classrooms, four Montessori Directresses, 12 Teaching Assistants, and 100 students today.
The foundational values of MSLT supports our students in becoming bright, inquisitive, and engaged individuals in their own lives, education, and communities. Thank you to all who have been a part of our school throughout the past 40 years!
MSLT Through the Years
Get Involved
Alumni Connection
Are you or a family member an alumni of MSLT? We would love to connect with you!
Our school is looking for alumni and alumni families to help honor the legacy of our school. We would like to hear your favorite Montessori memories, see photos from your time at MSLT, and hear about what you are doing now! Please contact our Communications Director Marguerite at communications@montessoriatlonetree.com if you are interested in getting involved. We hope to use alumni stories as a part of our displays at 40th year events and for social media campaigns.
40th Year Events Calendar
Throughout 2025, we will be hosting events at MSLT and in Lone Tree to celebrate our school. We would love to see you at one! Please check back for updated events and dates.
April: 40th Year T-Shirt Fridays: Wear your 40th t-shirt to school each Friday in April! Does your student still need a t-shirt? Order one here: MSLT 40th T-Shirt Orders
June: Montessori School at Lone Tree Open House, Date TBA
July-August: MSLT Student Art Exhibition, Lone Tree Public Library