Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA)     

Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) is excited to announce the winner of the 2011 Exceptional Educator Award.  This award is presented to a teacher, assistant, or administrator from a preschool, daycare, or enrichment center.  The recipient has made an exceptional contribution to our preschool community through their dedication to early childhood education. 

The recipient of the 2011 Exceptional Educator Award is:

 Lynn Ahringer (“Miss Lynn”), a teacher from Early World Montessori (EWM).

 
Miss Lynn has been a teacher with EWM for 13 years, and is fondly referred to as “the singing teacher.”  Holly Rowden, a childhood friend of Miss Lynn’s, began teaching at EWM in 1991 and inspired her to become a teacher.  Miss Lynn comes from a long line of teachers, including her mother, and an uncle who was superintendent of schools in Detroit.  When she is not teaching, Miss Lynn enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, and playing golf. 

Miss Lynn was nominated by parents of current and past students, several nominations came from families where she had taught all of their children. In the words of some of the parents; “My children have learned responsibility, independence, and the ways to interact appropriately in learning and play settings because of her amazing skills.” “Miss Lynn has a high level of teaching skills and dedication to effectively teach and emotionally support all of the students of many nationalities and she creates a loving environment to instill the love of learning in all of her students.”  

Most endearing were the nominations she received from current and past students.  “Miss Lynn is the best and she is smart and teaches me everything.  I love her so much.” “Miss Lynn helped me to read and write.  She was my favorite teacher.”

It is apparent that Miss Lynn is respected and loved by the community she teaches, and is very deserving of this award.  We are delighted to honor her for her lasting commitment to our preschoolers through the Exceptional Educator of 2011 award. 

A representative of MIPA was joined by students, parents, and teachers last week to surprise Miss Lynn with this award. 

Past Winners

2010 Winner – Molly van der Burch of Pebble

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