As a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized in the State of Alaska, the Fairbanks Montessori Association operates Fairbanks Montessori School. The Board of the FMA is volunteer, and oversees the school’s activities, compliance, strategic plan, and budget. The Board fulfills the responsibilities outlined by all applicable state and federal guidelines, including those described in the State of Alaska Child Care Licensing Regulations.
Fairbanks Montessori Association Bylaws
We appreciate our board members donating their time and expertise.
If you have professional skills that could benefit our school, please join us at our next board meeting.
Board meetings are every other month during the school year, on the third Wednesday at 6pm, and can be attended via Zoom.
If you would like to contact the Board, please email them at fmsboard@fairbanksmontessori.org.
Meet our 2024-2025 Board Members below!
Kristen Sublett
Board President
I was born and raised in Chicago and came to Alaska after completing graduate school for a job at Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center in 2012 as a certified nurse midwife. I met my husband shortly after who was raised in Tok and is a geotechnical engineer for Aleyska. My son James started in the toddler room and is now in Sra. Chio’s class. We are so grateful for Fairbanks Montessori and the experience it provides for our son and family, especially during these challenging times. The teachers and staff truly care about each child and have years of experience with the Montessori Method which we truly believe in as a family. We are expecting our second child in January 2021. We have two jack russel rescue dogs, Stella and Rosco. I love Alaska and how beautiful it is in every season and all the opportunities it offers. I love the Fairbanks community and think it’s a great place to raise a family. In the summer I enjoy hiking and being on the water. In the winter I enjoy skiing and spending time at our cabin off the Parks Hwy, and visiting somewhere warm and sunny!
Frances Tilney Burke
Board Vice President
Frances is a strong proponent of Montessori education, having experienced this special type of schooling for her oldest daughters in Clarksville, TN, and for her youngest daughter in Washington, DC and now Fairbanks, AK. Originally from Boston, Frances graduated from Harvard College and received her PhD in international relations from Tufts University. With her husband, an active-duty Army officer with 30 years of service, and their four children, the Burkes lived in Washington, DC, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington State, and now Alaska where they are proudly affiliated with the 11th Airborne Division (Arctic). Their youngest daughter is in her second year at FMS under the guidance of Ms. Kat in the Bear's Den.
She and her family are enjoying their second year at Fort Wainwright, where Frances continues to work as a leadership consultant for a Chicago-based firm and maintains her tenure as a Professor of the Practice of National Security at Duke University in North Carolina. For most of Frances' career, she has worked in the public sector for the Department of Defense as a policy advisor. She is actively involved in Scouting America, and currently serves as the District Roundtable Commissioner for the Midnight Sun Council in Fairbanks. As a family, the Burkes love to travel and support their older childrens' pursuits in football, soccer, cross country, Nordic skiing, and, of course, Scout Troop 38.
Nickol Dameron
Board Vice President
Nickol moved to Fairbanks from California in the winter of 2004 to become a student at UAF. She fell in love with Fairbanks and decided to build roots here. Nickol is an RN who has been with Fairbanks Memorial Hospital since 2004, where she currently works as an infusion therapy nurse. Her husband, Mike, works at Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center as a PA. They have three children, Cami, Astrid, and Auggie. Astrid attended FMS in Sra Chio's class and Auggie is a current student in Ms. Kat's class. Nickol's interests include all things knitting related, taking road trips, picking cranberries, learning how to freedive, and watching her family grow over the years.
Chuck Schulz
Board Treasurer (Photo Coming Soon)
Chuck is from Tok, Alaska, and attended Tok School from second grade through 10th grade. Chuck holds Bachelor's and Master's level degrees in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University. For the first seven years of his career, he worked in private consulting as a geotechnical engineer specializing in cold regions and permafrost engineering. During this time, he became a licensed professional engineer in the State of Alaska. He then spent two years in the FNSB Solid Waste Division as the Assistant Solid Waste Manager / Landfill Engineer. In this role he was accountable for managing employees, contract management, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and developing long-range plans.
Chuck was hired on with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in 2017 as a Senior Integrity Engineer in the Civil Integrity Group based in Fairbanks. Chuck leads the Aboveground and Bridge Programs, which include monitoring, analyzing, and developing recommendations and maintenance scopes to ensure reliable uniform support of the mainline and access road bridges.
Chuck and his wife, Kristin Sublett, have two children, James and William. James is a former FMS student and William is in his second year at FMS.
Erin Keiper
Board Member (Photo coming soon)
Erin is a mother of two. Her older child attended FMS and her younger kiddo started here in August of 2024. Erin moved to Fairbanks in 2015 and learned about FMS because she worked next door at the Alaska Family Health and Birth Center. She had co-workers who would bring their kids to the clinic after school at FMS and she was impressed by their school experience. Erin holds a Masters in Nursing, and is a Certified Nurse Midwife, a Lactation Consultant, and currently works for an organization called Grow Midwives, which supports midwives at every level of education and practice.
Mara Becker
Board Member (Photo coming soon)
About Mara: I was born and raised in downtown Fairbanks, and am actually a FMS dropout. Luckily, my academic career picked up again and took me to Seattle University for my undergraduate studies in Sports Medicine, followed by PA school in Oakland and Hawaii. I have worked as a Physician Assistant at Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center for more than nine years. The majority of my time has been spent in Urgent Care, but recently became the Employee Health Lead Provider. I am also incredibly lucky to have been provided the opportunity to work on developing a new program within TCC Medical- Indigenous Healing. I am proud to work, and lucky to be a patient, at this culturally competent clinic.
I am excited about the possibility of contributing to the Montessori community and supporting its mission of fostering independence and growth in children.
Michele Kelly
Board Member (Photo coming soon)
Michele is a born and raised Alaska and FMS alumni who attended here in the 1980s. Her younger siblings attended FMS after her. She enjoys being involved in our community and helping it thrive.
Samantha Knaak
Board Member (Photo coming soon)
Samantha is originally from Utah, but has been in Alaska since 2018. Over the years her love for this environment and the communities within it have grown tremendously. She spent a few years as a stay at home parent but now works part-time at a local business while working towards her Bachelor's degree in accounting. She currently has a daughter who attends Fairbanks Montessori and whom she and her husband plan to have attend through kindergarten. Samantha's husband has been working at Kinross Fort Knox for about 10 years, so they have been committed to making Fairbanks their home. They are passionate about animals, have two dogs and 6 chickens, and their community, as well as the environment around them. They enjoy giving back to the community and helping protect the environment as they love camping, fishing, the wondrous opportunities that Alaska provides.
Robyn Shepard
Board Member (Photo coming soon)
Robyn was born and raised in Fairbanks. She moved to New Mexico for 10 years, where she went to the University of New Mexico, and then went on to graduate from PIMA Medical Institute to become a licensed physical therapist assistant. She now lives back in Fairbanks with her family. Aside from working as a PTA, she is a gym owner and was her dad's caregiver for most of her 20s. Her main passion in life is being Howie's mommy. She enjoys working out, reading, camping, and traveling. Robyn has owned her own business for 4+ years, and has been on the hiring committee with physical therapy, so between the two, she feels like she has great skills to bring as far as group negotiation and communication and problem solving with a special interest seeing as how this is now her son's school :). She also has a passion for children and has done over 80 hours of volunteer work in other countries. This was, of course, over 10 years ago, but she has missed the volunteer aspect of helping a non profit and that is a huge part of why she joined then FMA board.
Jodee Trivette
Board Member (Photo coming soon)
Jodee joined the Board of Directors to help support our school and its families. She previously served for 10 years on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Fairbanks and understands many of the unique challenges that nonprofits face.
Jodee is a PA and a mother of two young boys, both of whom have attended FMS. She was born and raised in Alaska and enjoys many of the outdoor activities our state has to offer, including camping, hiking, and fishing with her family.
Emilie Wright
Board Member (Photo coming soon)
Emilie's family has been a part of the FMS community for about a year now. They are thrilled to have FMS as a resource for both of their girls, who are ages 4 and a half and 2. Emilie grew up in Oklahoma and has been in Fairbanks for almost 15 years. She moved her for the adventure but stayed for the people!
Emilie has over a decade of experience managing employees, business operations, and contracts, while providing administrative support. She holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from UAF and Bachelor's of Science in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University. In her current role as Administration Manager for ABR, she helps the business office run smoothly and efficiently. Emilie has experience with nonprofit and for-profit companies and understands the challenges that a non-profit board may face. She looks forward to the opportunity to serve Fairbanks Montessori School.