Exceptional Educator Award

MIPA is honored to recognize a teacher, director, assistant, or administrator who has made exceptional  contributions to our preschool community through their dedication to early childhood education. We welcome nominations from parents, peers, colleagues, directors, and past students.  

For the 2024-2025 Exceptional Educator Award, nominations will be accepted between March 1 and April 23, 2025.  You can submit your nominations during this time using this form [Form Coming in March]. 

Exceptional Educators will be honored at the Preschool Director’s Luncheon hosted by the Mercer Island School District in the Spring of 2025.

Past Exceptional Educators

2024 Winner - Evelyn Zwolski of St. Monica Catholic School

2023 Winner - Rita Wayne of Country Village Day School

2022 Winner - Deborah Fiaux of French American School of Puget Sound

2021 Winner - Beth Christofferson of Pixie Hill Preschool

2020 Winner -  Aui Patta of the Creative Learning Center Montessori

2019 Winner - Elaine Soeun of the Stroum Jewish Community Center’s Early Childhood School

2018 Winner – Michele Saunders of Sunnybeam School

2017 Winner – Kathy Morey of Creative Learning Center

2016 Winner – Laura Selby of Stroum Jewish Community Center

2015 Winner – Jen Headrick of Pixie Hill Preschool

2014 Winner – Talina Birashk of St. Monica’s Parish School

2013 Winner – Alex Cruz of Patti’s Play Center

2012 Winner – David Weston of Sunnybeam School

2011 Winner – Lynn Ahringer of Early World Montessori

2010 Winner – Molly van der Burch of Pebble Preschool

2009 Winner – Lisa Given of Lisa’s Little School

2008 Winner – Rita Macomber of Emmanuel Day School

2007 Winner – Mary Ann Haney of Sunnybeam School

2006 Winner – Ann Connolly of Pixie Hill Preschool

2005 Winner – Judy Witmer of Mercer Island Learning Lab