History

Fleur de Lis School has a rich history as one of the earliest nursery schools of San Diego County. Founded by Jesse Lee Davis, it began as the Open Air Play School of Chula Vista in 1926. It moved to its present location at 3743 Front Street in San Diego's Hillcrest district in 1929. Patricia W. Nelson came to San Diego in 1938 to carry on the vision of the Open Air Play School. She lived in the residence and was the owner/director for 33 years. From 1950 to 1962, she built three additional classrooms to make the school look much like it does today. In 1955 Patty Nelson changed the name of the school to Fleur de Lis, a symbol in the Nelson family coat-of-arms.

In 1971 Miss Nelson was ready to retire and sold the school to Dr. Paul Strauss and Anita Strauss. The Strauss' incorporated Fleur de Lis School in 1971. Dorothy Jensen was appointed Director. She increased the enrollment from under 50 to its current capacity of 95 children per day. Dorothy Jensen retired in 1987. Margaret (Kielty) Huffman became Director and Beverly Jensen became Co-Director in 1987 and currently manages the school. Together, they have a combined 81 years of working at Fleur de Lis. It is the people: our staff and our owners, the children and their parents, that have made Fleur de Lis School what it is today. Children, who attended the school, now enroll their own children. It is a school rich in tradition, filled with many happy memories.