History of OFS

Dr. Dorothy Stewart and husband, Bob Buhl, combined their life-long dream and passion for the Reggio Emilia-Inspired education model, founding Old Firehouse School in Lafayette in 1996. 

Old Firehouse School (OFS) has accomplished much over the last 20 years, recently winning the Bay Area Parent Readers Choice award for 'Best Preschool' in the East Bay.

Old Firehouse is renowned throughout California and annually hosts over approximately 300 educators who, for some, travel as remote as Guatemala, just to study our educational methods as well as review our award-willing facilities. 

Less than 10 years after its inception, in the Fall of 2004, OFS opened its second school in Mill Valley, Ca and then following close behind, the third school in beautiful Walnut Creek, Ca. In 2023, we opened a campus in downtown San Rafael, and we are excited to be able to offer this a Spanish-English bilingual emphasis at this school alongside our established attachment-based and Reggio Emilia-based programs. In September of 2024, we are opening yet another schoo—the wildlife/nature Bayview school in San Rafael.

We are receiving wonderful accolades from parents and the community, alike. We currently have over 250 families enrolled in the four schools. 

Old Firehouse is nationally recognized for its Staff Stability Plan, which is partially responsible for its extremely low staff turnover and inspiring child/caregiver relationships.