MIPA hosts annual Preschool Director Luncheon

Published 3:30 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) hosted its annual Preschool Director Luncheon for an afternoon of connection and celebration on May 29 at the Mercer Island Library.

Creative Learning Center’s Paula Lee and Pixie Hill Preschool’s Ashley Good were honored as Exceptional Educators of the Year.

The top nominations from each other school were: Evelyn Zwolski, St. Monica Catholic School Early Learning Center; Jamie Pasillas, Karen and Gary Schwartz Early Childhood School; Marian Amoateng, The Pebble Preschool at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church; Tammy Deviney, Bright Horizons Mercer Island; Yiyi Anderson, LooffAn Bilingual Montessori; Sonja Logan, Emmanuel Day School; Mi-Hyun, Early World Montessori; and Skyler Timmerman, Country Village Day School.

Mercer Island School District graduate (Class of 1998) and longtime community educator Marcelle Waldman was the guest speaker.

In the Community Recognition Milestone Award realm, MIPA spotlighted the following long-serving preschool educators and staff:

St. Monica Catholic School

Evelyn Zwolski, 10 years

Creative Learning Center

Aui Patta, 10 years

Emmanuel Day School

Sonja Logan, 10 years

Marcia Palk, 15 years

The Pebble Preschool

Dawn Gomez, 10 years

Stephanie Boyer, 10 years

Heidi Lewan, 25 years

Sunnybeam School

Michele Saunder, 15 years

David Weston, 25 years

Country Village Day School

Maritza Lopez, 18 years

Vanessa Small, 17 years

Linda Tepper, 25 years

Maura Semeno, 25 years

Rita Wayne, 25 years

Socorro Ruiz, 30 years