Both of my daughters attended Dragonfly. My oldest only spent one year before starting kindergarten, but her sister started as a toddler. The experience for both of my girls was overwhelmingly positive. While my girls are no longer students, they ask to visit Lisa and the school all the time. The decision of where to send your little ones for their first school experience is such a difficult one. We will forever be grateful to Lisa and the other teachers at Dragonfly for showing our girls so much love and kindness through the years. read more

Dragonfly preschool is absolutely wonderful! Lisa and her team of amazing teachers have been instrumental in the growth and development of my 2 boys. You will be hard pressed to find a more caring and attentive preschool. I love the combination of outdoor play, art, learning and music. At the end of our time with Dragonfly, I felt my kids were well prepared for elementary school. Lisa has created such a lovely community. read more

Dragonfly Preschool is a quality preschool in terms of opening up the minds of little ones! Lisa is a creative, kind, intuitive, & skilled teacher. Lisa works with each individual student, to help them develop more skills in the areas where they need more development. She just knows how to help each individual in the areas where they could use it. Simply put, she's an incredible teacher. Lisa is pleasant & professional to work with, as a parent, and she's generous to all of her students & other teachers (Maia & Brittany). All of the teachers are solid. The whole school is just solid! There are no surprises -- it's a dependable school with dependable teachers. The at-home learning environment is cozy, fun, unique & it inspires the imagination. There are no worksheets -- just a lot of fun toys, art projects, puzzles, books, costumes, outdoor play time, & a warm, loving, & professional teaching team to guide them along the way! Both my son & daughter went here before heading to Irvington Elementary. They were both really prepared -- socially, emotionally, & academically. They grew in so many ways with the help of Lisa & the other teachers - I feel they're more confident & capable because of the time they spent at Dragonfly (for a total of 5 years). read more

We have had an absolutely wonderful experience at Dragonfly, and I cannot recommend it enough! I toured many different preschools (and was very anxious and discerning since this was my first time looking for a childcare provider) and Dragonfly clearly stood out as being the best option. The teachers are extraordinary humans with very clear wealths of knowledge and experience. Dragonfly is a happy, peaceful, and loving atmosphere, and I have really enjoyed watching my children grow as members of this little community. There is a clear focus on kindness amongst the kids, and you can really see the way they support and look out for each other. As for the educational aspect, my kids have both really flourished in all areas of early learning. They have gained so many reading, math, and social skills. They also get lots of encouragement in art, music, movement, and outdoor play. COVID Addition: Dragonfly has handled this exceptionally well and takes proper precautions to keep the kids and families safe. This has been an invaluable addition to the already wonderful environment they provide. read more

I have nothing but positive things to say about Dragonfly. My daughter and son both attended for a total of 5 years before starting at our neighborhood school for Pre-K. Lisa and Nancy were flexible and supportive in allowing my son to start a bit earlier when he was still potty training. When I picked them up, they were always happy and had many wonderful things to share with me about their day. They played outside daily and painted on a regular basis. I really felt like my kids were cared for and loved. read more

We love dragonfly preschool! We toured a handful of places and knew right away after visiting Dragonfly that this was the place. Lisa was so welcoming, answered first time parents questions and made us feel like our child was going to be in the best of care. Once we met and got to know the other teachers, Nancy and Katie, that just reinforced our initial feelings. It was also important to us that in a home based preschool, the children's area felt really dedicated, well put together and not in conflict with the home space. There is a lot of joy, care, playfulness, positive reinforcement and support for each kid to thrive as little individuals here. Our daughter was there for 3 years (2.5-5.5years old) and always wanted to go to dragonfly every single day. We really felt like we were part of a community; every drop off or pick up was not a 'transaction' but a nice connection whether it was a brief moment or lingering conversation. Lisa and the teachers communicated well with the parents and frequently, not making us feel left in the dark after drop off. Kids get lots of sensory play, story time, outside time, craft projects and one of the best memorable thing is the memory books Lisa creates at the end of the year. A beautiful binder filled with pictures of your child and their experiences along with their art and creations! My daughter loves flipping through them still, and this is a book we will treasure for a long time. When our child had some behavioral issues, Lisa provided support and guidance as we worked through them. Even as we looked into kindergarten, she was there for feedback, insight and as our cheerleader. And when it was time for our daughter to leave for kindergarten, it was as tough for her as it was for us to say goodbye. We've experienced a great dragonfly community not only with Lisa, Nancy and Katie but have built lasting connections with the other families as well. read more

I cannot believe our time at Dragonfly is ending this year. My daughter (now in 1st grade) and my son (who will be starting kindergarten in the fall) both started at Dragonfly in diapers. In short, I credit Dragonfly with the fact that both my children entered/will be entering into kindergarten as kind and caring friends, confident learners, and persistent creative souls. I will be forever grateful to Lisa and her team for providing these incredibly positive years that have undoubtedly equipped my children with the invaluable tools necessary to not only move forward with their schooling, but bring love and kindness to this world. read more

My son went to Dragonfly for three years, and I could not imagine a better preschool environment. He loved going to school there each and every day, and I felt so comforted that he was engaged in a wide array of activities, surrounded by a wonderful community and learning how to be a kind and compassionate friend. We created long-lasting friendships from our time at Dragonfly, and we will forever be grateful to Lisa for the loving care and guidance she provided our son at such an important stage of his life. Dragonfly is a special place. read more

What a gift it has been sending my two girls to Dragonfly Preschool. The preschool is in Lisa's home, and it feels a bit like coming to my second home every day when I drop my daughter off. There is so much love and care pouring out of the door. Lisa and her staff create a safe, fun, happy environment where children can play and explore. My two very different daughters thrived at Dragonfly despite their diverging temperaments and learning styles. Lisa was deeply in touch them as individuals and helped each one of them grow in confidence. They loved going to school every day (no easy feat for 3 and 5 year old!) which was full of themes that sparked their interests and captured their imagination. Additionally, Lisa advocated for one of my children when there was a need for speech intervention. Dragonfly is a special place where children and childhood is celebrated. read more

We LOVE Dragonfly. My oldest daughter went here for a year before going to Irvington School for Pre-K, and now my youngest daughter is about to start her second year here. We love the location in our neighborhood, and almost all the kids live in the area and continue on to the same schools together. It's a home-based preschool - the front two rooms of a house in Irvington have been converted into the preschool space, and there is a good-sized outdoor space with play structure also. They are only a few blocks from Irving Park, and often take walks to the park, or through the neighborhood. They take kids from 2.5 - 5, and they don't need to be potty-trained. In fact, the teachers are really supportive and helpful in the potty-training process! Some kids stay here until kindergarten & others go off to a full-time pre-k program at 4. The teachers are wonderful and truly care about all the kids. They organize fantastic art projects (including cute gifts for holidays), and even have an end-of-the-year memory book that my 6-year-old still loves to look at 2 years later! The house belongs to Lisa, the primary teacher, who has taken care of my kids outside of school, and they both adore her. I truly can't say enough good things about Lisa, Nancy, LuLu, and Dragonfly! read more

Hands down the best little preschool around. I remember a friend telling me that dropping your kid off there feels like you are dropping them off with family. So true! I love Lisa, Nancy & Lulu so much and our daughter continues to tell stories about her days at dragonfly. We just went on vacation and when I asked her who she wanted to send a post card to the first person that came out of her mouth was LISA! Those two had the sweetest bond and that's something that will stick with our family forever. My oldest is 9 and loved the opportunity to go to summer camps with her little sister and even begged to go hang out with the kids when she didn't have school. So awesome they let her be a part of the fun too. Can't wait for my little guy to turn 2.5 so he can experience preschool with these lovely ladies. read more

When we moved to Portland and needed a preschool for our 3 1/2 year-old daughter, friends recommended Dragonfly. Almost two years later, after two full summers of summer camp and a full-year of preschool, we consider Lisa, Nancy and Lulu FAMILY. Our daughter is off to kindergarten a bubbly, confident and artistic young woman. And yes, we've promised to make a stop by Lisa's house every Halloween to show off our costumes. We cannot recommend Dragonfly enough. Loving, energetic, fun, progressive, open-minded... wonderful. read more

Ah, if only our kids could only stay preschoolers...this is the place they'd like to be! Lisa, Nancy and Katie are amazing! When I met Lisa for the first time, I knew her school was the best fit for our son. Her kind and openhearted personality makes kids (and adults) instantly feel comfortable. Our son loved going to Dragonfly and was joined the following year by his little sister. They both thrived in the play-based environment that fosters friendships, problem-solving while also allowing each child to grow and develop their own way / and individuality. I can't recommend Dragonfly enough (and I looked at a lot of preschools in the area). This is more than a place to drop off your kids - it's a community full of wonderful families and teachers. read more

Highly recommend! This was our first form of childcare and while it was a big step for us to trust anyone with our children, Dragonfly made it an easy, successful transition for our whole family! Both of our boys went to Dragonfly from 2014-2019 and we feel so fortunate that they were able to be with Lisa and her staff at such sweet, formative ages. read more

Our family was so lucky to have heard about Dragonfly from a neighbor. Our daughter really blossomed here and we will all miss Lisa, Nancy and Lulu very much. The year-end book is something special. Our daughter opens it often and has much to say about the experience. This was such a positive experience. There is love in this house. read more

Love, Love, LOVE Dragonfly! Could not recommend this preschool and their amazing staff more. Our family absolutely adores Lisa and Nancy. We are a stronger family because of them. Team Dragonfly. read more

Dragonfly means so much to our family that I have struggled to put into words how I feel about this place. Our daughter attended preschool here for 2 years, and I will always consider Lisa, Nancy, and LuLu to be some of the most important people in our lives. They were all so supportive as my daughter learned to navigate school for the first time, and when me made the difficult decision to move out of state, they rallied around her and gave her the confidence to enter a new school in a new state with bravery. My child learned to be a compassionate person, a good friend, a responsible citizen. She grew so interested in art and reading, in science and living things. Have you ever walked into a place and actually felt your heart grow bigger? That's how it felt every single day I dropped my daughter off at Dragonfly. I wish everyone could have this experience. We count the teachers of Dragonfly as our family. read more

We love Dragonfly too! My younger daughter attended and very quickly felt an emotional connection with Lisa (the owner) and the other 2 teachers. The way that they listen to and communicate with the kids is the best I've seen. I felt very supported for the potty-training phase - which can be stressful - and the creative art projects that came home are still featured around the house. I agree with another reviewer about the end-of-year memory book -- It is BEAUTIFUL and still in rotation for us. read more

Both of my daughters attended Dragonfly preschool. We had a wonderful experience here. The teachers are excellent. I would highly recommend this preschool. read more

We have two kids who have gone through Dragonfly, we can't speak highly enough about this preschool. Lisa, Nancy and Lulu truly get to know and love the kids and it shows! The kids come home happy and fulfilled, the teachers are flexible. My husband and I feel safe, secure and so happy with the environment! read more