SPRUCE TREE MONTESSORI - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- PAC Chair - to Contact Alli Directly, Please
Hello, My name is Annie Scott! I am local to Fairbanks and I just love being a part of the Spruce Tree Montessori Team!
Hello friends! My name is Erica Nash and I was born and raised in Palo Alto, California and took a leap of faith by attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) to play volleyball.
Job Titles:
- Lead Children 's House Teacher, Taiga Community & Marketing Coordinator
Greetings! I was born and raised in Poway, Calif. (suburb of San Diego) and I came to Alaska in the fall of 2000 to earn a degree from the University of Alaska and play volleyball for the Nanooks. I wound up getting my degree in foreign language (Hispanic studies/Spanish emphasis) with a minor in Linguistics. After graduation, I worked in the athletic department as the media relations and communications director and met my future husband, Randy, who is an Alaska Smokejumper. I stayed involved with the volleyball program as a volunteer assistant coach for 10 seasons and for the past two years I served as the full-time assistant coach. Jamie earned her Montessori Early Childhood (EC 3 - 6) credential Summer 2017 from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in Florida and completed her practicum teaching year as Lead Children's House Teacher, Taiga community, at Spruce Tree.
Job Titles:
- Educational Director & Associate Head of School
Kristen was born and raised in Ft. Myers, Florida. She attended a Montessori preschool when she was a child and has fond memories of working with the traditional Montessori materials. She went on to earn a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Florida. She earned her Montessori credential for the early childhood level (EC 3 - 6) Summer 2013 from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in Florida.
Kristen joined our team Fall 2013 as our first Children's House Lead Teacher. During the weeks leading up to the first day of school, she was instrumental in creating an inviting, fully authentic Montessori classroom environment and led our school's first early childhood cohort along an inspiring educational journey. After a maternity leave Spring 2016, she returned as our Program Advisor until moving to California that August with her husband who is a USAF F-16 pilot. Upon their return to Fairbanks summer of 2017, she re-joined our team as our Children's House Program Coordinator, serving as the Children's House team advisor collaborating with the Lead Children's House Teachers, Teacher Assistants and other classroom support staff. The following year, she returned to her role as Lead Children's House Teacher and continued in that position until April 2021 when she went on maternity leave. Kristen returned as our Educational Director Fall 2021. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and hiking with her family.
Mrs. Kristen joined our staff in August 2013.
Job Titles:
- Children 's House Teacher Assistant, Taiga Community
Hello! My name is Malaika and I was born in Kenya and raised in Wisconsin. I moved to Alaska fall of 2010. I earned my BA in Child Development & Family Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. During my free time I enjoy going on walks and spending time with family and friends.
I knew at an early age that I wanted to be an educator. I'm passionate about providing an environment for students that fosters a love for learning. I'm overjoyed to be part of the team at Spruce Tree Montessori!
Ms. West joined our team in January 2022.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Head of School
- Founder of Spruce Tree Montessori School
Sabrina was born and raised in Wiggins, Colorado and attended the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) on a basketball / volleyball scholarship. She earned a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering there and enjoyed a well-rounded experience as a student-athlete. She met her husband, Ryan Binkley, at CSM and moved to Alaska in 2001 to begin her life in Alaska and a career in engineering. After a short time with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (the company that owns/operates the Trans-Alaska Pipeline), she began work in the family business at the Riverboat Discovery. For 15 years she worked as Vice President of Retail Sales and as the Head Buyer for the company. She served as consultant to the retail management team for 3 years following that tenure.
After many seasons of work in the visitor industry with the Riverboat Discovery and four seasons as Head Volleyball Coach at a local high school, she learned the value of top-notch customer service and leadership. During this time, she developed a strong understanding of business operations, finance and marketing. Those skills combined with her passion for inspiring children led her to become the Founder of Spruce Tree Montessori School (STMS) in March 2012, Fairbanks' only Montessori preschool and elementary school affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS) as a Full Member School. The school opened in August 2012 and she has served as Head of School since the beginning. With growth from 7 students and 1 teacher to 50 students and 4 teachers in just three years, the school repurposed the historic Fairbanks train depot in downtown Fairbanks and relocated its campus. This well designed building with beautiful outdoor spaces, combined with its prime location in downtown Fairbanks, positioned STMS for another construction project Summer 2022, adding square footage to the elementary classroom, the library and the teacher office. Spruce Tree now enjoys enrollment of 95 students, and employs 14 full time staff.
Sabrina is involved in her local community in several ways including serving on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 9 years. She was a Rotarian for 16 years - a charter member of the Golden Heart Rotary Club. She was elected to the American Montessori Society Board of Directors April 2022 and is now enjoying a journey with the esteemed body that affiliates and accredits Montessori schools worldwide. She's also proud of her past service on the United Way Board of Directors, a 10 year stint, during which she enjoyed co-chairing the organization's annual fundraising campaign in 2010 that brought in upwards of $1.4 million.
Her professional extra-curricular interests and activities include serving as the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Board Chair for 2020, the Chamber's Education & Workforce Development Committee Chair for four years, a member of the Chamber Board Executive Committee for four years, volunteering with her Rotary club at local events, working with the Alaska Montessori Association for which she serves as Committee Chair, and attending AMS conferences for the past 10 years. To begin her journey, she has fond memories of her time serving on the Fairbanks Montessori School Board for four years (2009 - 2013) where her oldest son attended preschool and kindergarten.
Sabrina was named to the Alaska Journal's Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2017 for her work in education and business.
At home she enjoys cooking/baking, entertaining friends and family, yoga, and playing board games and cards. She looks forward to a time when she'll have more time for skiing, running, hiking, and summertime gardening.
Sabrina is married to Ryan Binkley and together they have two boys, Simon (17) and Clive (13), and an English Springer Spaniel named Glady who often comes to school. As a family, boating, sports, and travel keep them busy.
Sabrina founded Spruce Tree in March 2012 and has been the Head of School ever since.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Physical Education Teacher
Hello! My name is Hannah, and I am a new teacher at Spruce Tree this year. I have moved from East Tennessee with hopes of new adventures and experiences in this season of life!
I graduated from Lee University in 2016 and have 5 years of experience teaching elementary PE in public schools. I am excited for a new environment to serve and grow in as an educator. I love helping children see the importance of living an active, healthy lifestyle!
Job Titles:
- Lead Toddler Teacher, Sprout Community
Hey there! I'm Sara Guritz, a proud Fairbanks local. I studied Elementary Education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and hold an Alaska State teaching certificate. With four years of experience teaching in public schools, I'm thrilled to join the Spruce Tree Montessori family.
Nadriennna Damaris is a lifelong learner and mother of three amazing boys. She enjoys traveling for business and pleasure and has taught in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, California, and Hangzhou, China. She holds a BA and MAEd in Education and a MAEd in Curriculum and Instruction. She earned her Lower Elementary Montessori credential at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in Illinois in 2016. She has many interests and hobbies such as choreographing, creative writing and astronomy, and enjoys bringing those interests into the classroom and giving students space to discover and explore their own interests. Being able to give her students the tools to follow their curiosity is one of the many things she appreciates about the Montessori Method.