About CELC

It all started when...

COASTAL EARLY LEARNING CENTER IS AN EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE CHILD CARE CENTER OWNED AND OPERATED BY ITS DIRECTRESS, MS. CARRIE COOTS, AN EXPERIENCED, CERTIFIED, MONTESSORI TEACHER AND LEADER. OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE IMMERSED IN THE MONTESSORI PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION AND HAVE RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, HUMILITY, AND LOVE IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH EACH CHILD.

Coastal Early Learning Center is in its third year in Berlin.  I, the founder Carrie Coots grew up in a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel/Restaurant Administration.  My parents were public school educators and upon retirement, believed so strongly in the philosophy of the Montessori Method of education, they began a Montessori school in Houston, Texas.  I worked with them in the school and discovered a passion for the Montessori philosophy and a belief in the importance of the young child’s education.  I earned my Primary Montessori Certification from The National Center for Montessori Education (subsequently merged with American Montessori Society) in 2002 and began teaching a Primary class, as well as learning the administrative and business aspects of a Montessori School.

In 2004, I moved to the Washington DC area and trained for several years with one of the country’s premier private Montessori Schools. 

When I moved to Berlin in 2007 I soon became aware of the need for an authentic Montessori School.  In 2013, as my son turned two years old, I wanted him to have the best education possible.  I opened Coastal Early Learning and began teaching a Montessori class out of my home.  After two years of teaching, it was apparent that I was in desperate need of expansion.   It was time to utilize my Montessori experience and knowledge and open a Montessori based educational program and to share it with my (new) hometown community.  With encouragement from the parents of the children in my class, I bought a 4 acre piece of land and began my journey of building what is now Coastal Early Learning Center!