FMS Faculty & StafF
School Year 2024 - 2025
Many of our faculty and staff members have completed or are completing professional development courses and certifications through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies, which is MACTE accredited, and recognized by the International Montessori Council.
Our full time staff also maintain current pediatric and adult CPR and first aid certification and complete 24 continuing education hours per year.
We come from a variety of backgrounds and the college educations of our Leadership Team staff encompass degrees in a several fields.
Our Leadership Team staff have a combined 87 years of experience at Fairbanks Montessori.
FMS Leadership Team
Mrs. Heather
Executive Director & Head of School
FMS Leadership Team Member
Mrs. Heather is a born and raised Alaskan, a mother of two, with experience in business, logistics, and employee training and development. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, she has completed her Montessori School Leadership Certificate, a 19 month course, through the internationally recognized Center for Guided Montessori Studies.
In her third year as the Executive Director of our non-profit and the Head of School, Ms. Heather is excited to guide Fairbanks Montessori forward as we continue to set the standard for early education in the Interior.
Both of Mrs. Heather’s children have attended FMS.
Mrs. Evonne
Raven’s Nest Lead Teacher / Staff Mentor
FMS Leadership Team Member
Mrs. Evonne is beginning her eleventh school year at FMS. She began her career with us as Mrs. Hanneman’s afternoon assistant, a position she held for several years. She has a BA in Early Childhood Education and earned her Primary Montessori Teacher Certificate in the fall of 2021. Ms.Evonne lived in Japan for 6 years, where she attended a Japanese preschool. She enjoys cooking and baking with her students.
Ms. Kat
Bear’s Den Lead Teacher
FMS Leadership Team Member
Ms. Kat is in her seventh year in the Montessori primary classroom. She worked at FMS as Sra Chio’s classroom assistant for five years, and has been mentored by Sra Chio and Mrs. Hanneman. She was also a Lead Teacher at a Montessori primary school in Prague.
In addition to holding a Montessori Primary Teacher Certification (earned through CGMS), she holds two master’s degrees, one in Biology and one in German (teaching). Ms. Kat enjoys skiing and biking throughout Alaska, and playing the guitar with her students while they learn songs together.
Ms. Shania
Otter Cove Lead Teacher
FMS Leadership Team Member
Ms. Shania is beginning her seventh school year at FMS. She is a UAF graduate, with Bachelor’s Degrees in French and Psychology. During the summer of 2022, she completed her Montessori Primary Teacher Certificate. She enjoys travel, sea kayaking, and spending time with her dog.
Ms. Katherine H
Moose Meadow Lead Teacher
FMS Leadership Team Member
Ms. Katherine has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Bob Jones University and built a career in technical and manual writing for the Federal Aviation Administration after her college graduation in 2018. She is an accomplished cellist and pianist, and enjoys reading literature, hiking, and camping in her spare time. Her son, Joseph, and her numerous nieces and nephews are her everything. In 2023 Ms. Katherine chose to change careers and pursue her passion for teaching. She is completing the Montessori Primary Teacher Certificate Program at CGMS along with Ms. Amy.
Ms. Amy
Lead Teacher
FMS Leadership Team Member
We welcomed Ms. Amy to the Fairbanks Montessori Leadership and Teaching team in the summer of 2023. Ms. Amy was born and raised in Fairbanks Alaska. She has a BS in Ecology and worked as an ecology field technician before having two kids. She completed a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program through UAF in 2022 and is completing her Montessori Primary Teacher Certificate through CGMS. Ms. Amy enjoys spending time outside with her children and dogs; hiking, rafting, canoeing, and skiing/skijoring.
Ms. Amy is an FMS alumni and her child joined FMS for primary school.
Sra. Chio
Substitute Teacher and Staff Mentor
FMS Leadership Team Member
Born and raised in Trujillo, Peru, Mrs. Chio taught at Fairbanks Montessori for more than 20 years. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business and a Primary Montessori Teacher Certification. Mrs.Chio enjoys collecting heart shaped rocks and loves everything pumpkin flavored. She also enjoys incorporating Peruvian culture and Spanish vocabulary and songs into her classroom lessons.
Both of Sra Chio’s children are Fairbanks Montessori alumni, and both have gone on to complete their Bachelor’s Degrees.
Mrs. Hanneman
Substitute Teacher and Staff Mentor
FMS Leadership Team Member
Mrs. Hanneman is a graduate of Montana State University and holds an AMI Teaching Credential. She retired after more than two decades of leading a classroom at Fairbanks Montessori, and now is on our team as a substitute teacher and mentor to staff. She enjoys biking, hiking, reading historical fiction, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs, Alice and Shirley.
Both of Mrs. Hanneman’s children are Fairbanks Montessori alumni, and both have gone on to complete their Bachelor’s Degrees.
Mrs. Colleen
Enrollment Specialist / Administrative Coordinator
FMS Leadership Team Member
Mrs. Colleen is starting her eighth school year at FMS. After college, Mrs. Colleen spent 7 years as an account specialist at credit unions. She served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Zootown Arts Community Center in Missoula, Montana. She worked as a classroom assistant for three years at FMS before coming to the front office. She holds a BA in English and a 50 hour Montessori Primary Assistant Certificate, earned through CGMS. She enjoys camping and hiking throughout Alaska.
Mrs. Colleen’s child attended Fairbanks Montessori for the full 3 year primary cycle.
FMS CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS & SUPPORT STAFF
Ms. Andrea
Raven’s Nest Assistant
Ms. Andrea was born and raised here, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Growing up here, in interior Alaska, and surrounding areas, gave her a love of nature, and a desire to learn more about the local wildlife. She works to bring her local and Indigenous knowledge to her work, in the classroom.
Ms. Andrea has been with FMS going on seven years, joining us in January of 2018. She holds a fifty hour Montessori Assistant Certificate. Ms. Andrea is in the process of continuing her higher education. Her focus of study will be in early childhood education. In the mean time, she is expanding her knowledge of Montessori education, and how she can bring a location-based approach to her work.
In her personal time, Ms. Andrea enjoys being with her family, gardening, exploring Fairbanks and surrounding areas, cooking, drawing and painting, writing, reading, and studying various foreign languages.
Mrs. Emily
Bear’s Den Morning Assistant
We welcomed Mrs. Emily to Fairbanks Montessori School in the summer of 2021. She brings 15 years of experience working with special needs children aged 3-10. She is a UAF graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. In her free time Mrs. Emily enjoys hiking and working with clay to create pottery.
Ms. Ashlynn
Otter Cove Assistant
Ms Ashlynn joined the FMS Staff in January of 2023. She is a graduate of North Idaho College, and holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development. Ms. Ashlynn is an avid reader and enjoys surfing and backpacking.
Mrs. Debbie
Classroom Assistant Substitute
Mrs. Debbie has been with FMS for six years, and she has 35 years of early education experience, including operating her own preschool and infant programs. She holds a 50 hour Montessori Assistant Certificate. She enjoys boating in Valdez and spending time with her grandchildren.
Ms. Chelsea
Staff & Classroom Support
Ms. Chelsea is in her seventh year at FMS. Ms. Chelsea comes from a family of teachers, including her mother, her sister, and her aunts. Ms. Chelsea has earned a Montessori Assistant certificate, and has taken special needs training to enhance her skills in the classroom. Ms. Chelsea is active in her indigenous community, and enjoys keeping Alaska Native traditions alive.
Ms. Chelsea’s child attended Fairbanks Montessori for the full 3 year primary cycle.
Ms. Mary
Staff & Classroom Support
Ms. Mary joined the FMS staff in the early spring of 2023. She enjoys working with this age group. She also enjoys sharing Alaska Native culture, language, and traditions with our students.