Our Story

The Lamplighter School was founded in 1953 in a North Dallas farmhouse by Natalie Murray and Marieta "Sandy" Swain. Natalie and Sandy envisioned a school that would celebrate children and encourage a path of lifelong learning.

There were just twenty-three students and two teachers the first year, and classes were offered only in kindergarten and first grade. Along with a rich educational program, children learned to square dance and sang together in school-wide hootenannies. Today, those beloved traditions continue. You can still find us gathered together in the auditorium for monthly hootenannies – singing some of the same songs as we did in the 1950s – and our students still learn to swing their partners as part of their square-dancing study in kindergarten. 

Much has changed since 1953, but so much has remained true to our founders’ vision. Through the years, Lamplighter has experienced a rich history of program development, campus enhancements, and established traditions. We invite you to explore some of the key milestones in the School's history:

The Lamplighter School | Churchill Way Campus