Mercer Island · Licensed center

Creative Learning Center Montessori

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What the state has found

The state cited rules at all 3 of its licensing inspections since January 2024. It lists no valid complaint about this center.

Of the 405 Seattle-area centers with 3 licensing inspections, 33% had rules cited at all 3, as this center did. 11% had none cited.

Licensing inspections

Sep 26, 20252 citations

  • “During the visit, it was observed that several staff members had expired food handler permits.”

    WAC 110-300-0106(12)

  • “On the playground, two slides were placed directly on the ground without maintaining the required six-foot fall zone. One slide was placed on a turf grass surface, which does not provide adequate impact-absorbing material.”

    WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b)

Jul 12, 20242 citations

  • “The individual care plan stored with the prescription medication was observed to be unsigned by the healthcare provider.”

    WAC 110-300-0186(1)

  • “One teacher did not complete the Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) class, and another teacher did not complete the Child Care Basics class, both of which are required within the first three months of employment.”

    WAC 110-300-0106(3)

Jan 11, 20243 citations

  • “Child C. does not have individual care plan for dairy allergy. Child SL allergic to tomato- no individula care plan. Child O. allergic to fish- no individula care plan. Child EY has Benadryl and Ep-pen for nut allergy. Individula care plan is missing information about symptoms, substitute foods, names of medications and how to administer medications. The plan is not signed by a medical provider. Parents have not trained staff on medication administration.”

    WAC 110-300-0186(1), WAC 110-300-0186(2)

  • “Window blinds were loose, not attached to safety hooks on the wall. Plastic bags accessible under the sink in classroom 2.”

    WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b), WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d)

  • “Staff MK and SV, and SK don't have CORE training after 3 months of employment. Staff MK doesn't have emergency prepredenss, children experiencing homelessnes, or child abuse neglect, and exploitation training. Staff SV doesn't have emergency prepredenss, children experiencing homelessnes, or child abuse neglect, and exploitation training. staff SK Staff MK doesn't have emergency prepredenss, children experiencing homelessnes, or child abuse neglect, and exploitation training. Staff SK doesn't have food worker training.”

    WAC 110-300-0106(3), WAC 110-300-0106(4), WAC 110-300-0106(12)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
September 26, 2025
On file
3 visits since January 2024 — all of them cited findings
Most serious
Serious — During the visit, it was observed that several staff members had expired food handler permits. · September 26, 2025

Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.

Sep 2025 Licensing visit 2 findings

Licensing visit · September 26, 2025

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

During the visit, it was observed that several staff members had expired food handler permits.

Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space

WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) · Serious

On the playground, two slides were placed directly on the ground without maintaining the required six-foot fall zone. One slide was placed on a turf grass surface, which does not provide adequate impact-absorbing material.

Report (PDF)

Jul 2024 Licensing visit 2 findings

Licensing visit · July 12, 2024

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(3) · Short Term

One teacher did not complete the Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) class, and another teacher did not complete the Child Care Basics class, both of which are required within the first three months of employment.

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

The individual care plan stored with the prescription medication was observed to be unsigned by the healthcare provider.

Report (PDF)

Jan 2024 Licensing visit 3 findings

Licensing visit · January 11, 2024

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) / 110-300-0186(2) · Serious

Child C. does not have individual care plan for dairy allergy. Child SL allergic to tomato- no individula care plan. Child O. allergic to fish- no individula care plan. Child EY has Benadryl and Ep-pen for nut allergy. Individula care plan is missing information about symptoms, substitute foods, names of medications and how to administer medications. The plan is not signed by a medical provider. Parents have not trained staff on medication administration.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b) / 110-300-0165(2)(d) · Serious

Window blinds were loose, not attached to safety hooks on the wall. Plastic bags accessible under the sink in classroom 2.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(3) / 110-300-0106(4) / 110-300-0106(12) · Short Term / Serious

Staff MK and SV, and SK don't have CORE training after 3 months of employment. Staff MK doesn't have emergency prepredenss, children experiencing homelessnes, or child abuse neglect, and exploitation training. Staff SV doesn't have emergency prepredenss, children experiencing homelessnes, or child abuse neglect, and exploitation training. staff SK Staff MK doesn't have emergency prepredenss, children experiencing homelessnes, or child abuse neglect, and exploitation training. Staff SK doesn't have food worker training.

Report (PDF)

Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.

Openings, Working Connections subsidy, cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.

How they teach

Montessori

“Guided by Montessori principles, we nurture each child's natural curiosity, independence, and love of learning through hands-on experiences and thoughtful guidance.”

Who cares for your child

Miss Marilyn (Owner) since 1994, Marilyn Wellnitz (Owner) since 1994, Miss Aui (Co-Director/ Montessori Certified /Admin) since 2014 and Miss Paula (Island Room - Lead Teacher - Montessori Certified) since 2017.

Of 2,387 Seattle-area providers, 75 publish how long a named staff member has been there; the longest tenure at each of those has a median of thirteen years.

Details

(206) 232-8900

Website
clcmontessori.com
Address
8236 SE 24th Street
License
PL-18728, active
Quality program
Early Achievers Enrolled
Established
1994

Nearby

Programs in Mercer Island on the Seattle guide

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Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

How they teach

Who cares for your child

State record

From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.

Details

Medium means the middle half of Seattle-area’s 859 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 41 to 114 children. Small is 6 to 40; large is 115 to 323.

The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.

Nearby

The other centers’ visit lines are from Washington DCYF’s published reports as Shortlist read them on October 9, 2026.