Staff Directory
The staff of Spruce Tree Montessori School share a common vision. We believe that education should be an inspiring experience — a journey for both the child and the parent — during which a partnership between the school and family serves both through a love of learning.
All Spruce Tree Montessori School classroom teaching staff hold bachelor’s degrees or have equivalent experience and are CPR-First Aid certified. All Lead Teachers also hold Montessori credentials for the level at which they are assigned or are enrolled in an AMS-approved, Montessori teacher certification course. We hold the safety and security of the children of Spruce Tree as our top priority.
Get to know our team through this list of our favorite things. Our Favorite Things
Mrs. Sabrina Binkley
Head of School & Founder
B.S. Petroleum Engineering
AMS Credential: Administrator
AMS Board Director, Elected 2022-present
Sabrina is our Head of School & Founder. She moved to Alaska in 2001 after earning her B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, where she met her husband, Ryan Binkley. 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.
During this time, she developed a strong understanding of business operations, finance and marketing. Those skills combined with her passion for education and inspiring children toward a love of learning led her to become the Founder of Spruce Tree Montessori School (STMS) in March 2012. Spruce Tree is Fairbanks’ only independent Montessori school affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS) offering programming for toddlers through 6th grade.
Sabrina was elected to the American Montessori Society’s National Board of Directors April 2022 and currently serves as the Development Committee Chair and is a member of the Finance Committee. She serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the Alaska Montessori Association. Locally, she is a member of the University of Alaska (UAF) Museum of the North Advisory Council and she served on the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 9 years, as Chair of the Board in 2020, and as the Education Chair for four years. She was a Rotarian for 16 years and served on the United Way Board of Directors for 10 years. To begin her Montessori 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.
Sabrina is married and has two boys, Simon (19), who completed the Spruce Tree Elementary Program and Clive (15), who completed the Spruce Tree Children’s House & Elementary Programs. She loves her English Springer Spaniel named Glady (pictured above) who often comes to school with her. At home she enjoys cooking and baking, entertaining friends and family, reading, and playing board games.
Sabrina founded Spruce Tree in March 2012 and has been the Head of School ever since.
Mrs. Kristen Roper
Assistant Head of School & Director of Education
B.A. Elementary Education
AMS Credential: Early Childhood (3-6)
AMS Credential: Administrator, expected completion Fall 2025
Kristen is the Educational Director and Assistant Head of School at Spruce Tree Montessori School. 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. Kristen earned her Montessori credential for the early childhood level (EC 3 – 6) Summer 2013 from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in Florida. Previously she served as a Children’s House Lead teacher and 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. Kristen is married and has two children who attend Spruce Tree. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and hiking with her family.
Mrs. Erica Nash
Director of Student Support & School Counselor
M.A.Ed. Community Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Montessori Paraprofessional Certification
Ms. Erica is our School Counselor and supports our community through weekly social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons. She earned a BA in Psychology before pursuing a Master of Education degree in Community Counseling. Ms. Erica is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Alaska and holds an endorsement as an Anxiety and Stress Management Specialist through the American School Counseling Association. Before joining the team at STMS, she worked as a mental health clinician with teens and young adults.
From Erica: 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. Outside of work, volleyball is a major passion of mine, and I curb this craving through coaching competitive club volleyball. This California girl loves exploring the natural beauty of Alaska through hiking and camping and enjoys the adventures that come with working at Spruce Tree Montessori School.
Erica joined us the summer of 2016.
Mrs. Karen Boehm 
Administrative Manager
Club Coordinator
B.S. Criminal Justice
Montessori Paraprofessional Certification
Karen joined our team in November 2024.
Mrs. Jamie Foland
Senior Lead Children’s House Teacher
B.A. Hispanic Studies/Spanish
AMS Credential: Early Childhood (3-6)
Jamie is the Lead Teacher in the Taiga Community, bringing a passion for education and a love of learning to the classroom. Originally from Southern California, Jamie moved to Alaska to attend the University of Alaska, where she played volleyball for the Nanooks. She earned a B.A. in Foreign Language with a minor in Linguistics before pursuing her Montessori Early Childhood (EC 3–6) credential, which she completed in Summer 2017 through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in Florida.
She brings over 15 years of experience in education, including more than five years of coaching at the university level. She is deeply committed to fostering a nurturing and inspiring environment for her students. Outside the classroom, Jamie is a certified yoga teacher and enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, her two children who both attended Spruce Tree, and their two dogs. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, playing volleyball, and walking.
Ms. Jamie joined our team Fall 2015.
Mrs. Malaika West
Lead Children’s House Teacher
B.A. Early Childhood Education
AMS Credential: Early Childhood (3-6)
Montessori Paraprofessional Certification
Mrs. Malaika West is the Lead Teacher in the Boreal Community. She was born in Kenya and raised in Wisconsin. She moved to Alaska in the fall of 2010. She earned her BA in Child Development & Family Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and then her Montessori credential for the Early Childhood level from Seton Montessori Institute in Chicago. During her free time she enjoys going on walks and spending time with family and friends.
From Malaika: “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.
Ms. Jona Bishop, replacing Ms. Katy mid-January 
Children’s House Teacher Assistant, Boreal Community
Hello, my name is Jona Bishop. I was born in the Philippines and worked as a nanny for 10 years for three children. I traveled and lived in many different countries during my time as a nanny. I experienced many different cultures. I moved to America in December 2023 and began work in logistics at Alaska Fire Service for two fire seasons. I then worked as a job coach for people with autism, nurturing my love for caring for others. I’m looking forward to my new role as a teacher assistant at Spruce Tree where I know I’ll learn and experience new things.
Ms. Jona joined our team January 2026.
Mrs. Sarah Cloward
Children’s House Teacher Assistant, Taiga Community
Montessori Paraprofessional Certification
In training: AMS Credential, Early Childhood, expected completion Fall 2027
Sarah Cloward is the Teacher Assistant in the Taiga Community. She was born in Washington state, where she spent her elementary years, and moved to Alaska in middle school. She attended Monroe Catholic High school, until COVID-19 happened. She then completed her senior year through Raven Homeschool while working full time. Upon graduating, she joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where she can serve her community from home, as an airplane mechanic.
From Sarah: My education has come from my experiences, at least for the time being! The U.S. Air Force instilled honor, respect, and an avid need for kindness. I’ve experienced shock from my fellow service members when I would say, “Could you please pass me a wrench?” That experience has grounded my desire to be kind, even when laughed at, in an otherwise abrasive world. I’ve subbed at a family owned and operated daycare for 4 years, and was ready to take a leap into the education field. The Montessori value of Compassion instilled my choice in joining the Spruce Tree Montessori Family.
Sarah joined our team in November 2024.
Ms. Tuğçe Aytac
Lead Elementary Teacher, Tongass Community
AMS Credential: Elementary, EI-EII, 1st – 6th grade
M.A. Banking & Financial Services Management 
Ms. Aytac is the Lead Elementary Teacher in our combined lower-upper elementary community for children ages 6 – 12 in grades 1st – 6th. She completed her Montessori Early Childhood training in Istanbul and then earned her Elementary I-II credential at Westside Montessori Training Center in New York City.
From Tuğçe: Selam! I’m Tuğçe (pronounced Too-chee) from Türkiye. While searching for my Cosmic Mission, I studied Economics in Türkiye and completed my Master’s degree at Manchester Business School in the UK. I spent many years in the world of finance, gaining practical business experience while also volunteering with NGOs and attending international peace conferences. Eventually, these experiences led me—thankfully—to discover the Montessori Method during a visit to a Montessori school with a friend. I came to see it as one of the most powerful tools for peace.
My path has taken me to many countries and allowed me to live in some incredible places—along the Bosphorus in Istanbul, in the heart of New York, and in sunny Florida near Disney World. I have a deep love for nature, astronomy, books, technology, travel, theater, and lifelong learning. I’m truly excited to begin this new chapter with Spruce Tree and to enjoy the journey ahead—together!
Ms. Tuğçe joined our team July 2025.
Ms. Hannah Johnson
Elementary Teacher Assistant, Tongass Community
hannah@sprucetreemontessori.com
B.A. Communication Development and Disorders
Montessori Paraprofessional Certification
Ms. Hannah is the Teacher Assistant in the Tongass Community. She is from the local area but recently moved back from Germany, where she had many fantastic opportunities to travel. I graduated from the University of Alaska in 2023 and studied Communication Development and Early Childhood Education. I’m striving toward a graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology.
From Hannah: Howdy! I’m Hannah and I am excited to be a part of the Spruce Tree team again this year! My other passions include painting, writing, reading, and hiking. I have a love for learning and am eager to help facilitate the encouraging and joyful environment at Spruce Tree Montessori!
Ms. Hannah joined our team August 2024.
Mrs. Erica Hojohn
Co-Teacher, Sprout Community
Erica is our new Co-Teacher in our Toddler Program. She first came to Alaska in 2016 on a travel adventure and fell in love with the wonderful community of Fairbanks and the state. She is happy to be a part of this wonderful school that has helped nurture her children who have shown extraordinary growth during their time at Spruce Tree. With an Associate’s Degree in Science from Utah State University where she also pursued a Bachelor’s in Technical Writing and Linguistics and minored in Spanish, she is excited to move into the field of Montessori teaching. She is particularly interested in guiding young children who are developing language and social skills. She has worked in a variety of fields and loves to meet new people. She is married to Jim, our School Chef, and has two children enrolled in our Children’s House program. Her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, reading, singing, swimming and playing games.
Mrs. Erica Hojohn joined our team August 2025.
Ms. Makayla Salinas 
Co-Teacher, Sprout Community
Ms. Makayla joined the toddler team in October with over 12 years of experience in early childhood education and community-based learning. Born and raised in Fairbanks, she has a deep appreciation for nature, creativity, and movement. She has held a wide range of roles throughout her career, including Pre-K teacher, forest and farm educator, field trip coordinator, birth doula, and youth athletics coach. Makayla’s experience spans both traditional and alternative settings, with a special focus on nature-based learning. Her educational approach has emphasized physical activity, outdoor exploration, and hands-on artistic expression. In each role, she has worked to foster environments where children feel empowered to explore, move, and create freely—laying a foundation for joyful, lifelong learning.
Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time in nature with her two daughters and partner, creating art in winters with a rat on her shoulder and an audiobook in her ears or playing through acrobatics. She is excited to continue her learning journey with Spruce Tree Montessori and looks forward to deepening her understanding of child-led education.
Ms. Makayla joined our team August 2025.
Mrs. Priscilla Paye
Primary PE Teacher
B.S. Physical Education
Montessori Paraprofessional Certification
Hello, my name is Priscila, I was born in Brazil. I moved to Alaska in December 2019 and have been studying English since then. I have a degree in Physical Education from the Catholic University of Brasília and worked as a physical fitness trainer before moving to America. I began to enjoy my experiences with children as soon as I graduated, as a swimming teacher. I am currently taking the Montessori Paraprofessional certificate course in Early Childhood. I am very happy to be part of the Spruce Tree Montessori team and to be able to contribute to the education of children in our community.
Ms. Priscilla joined our team August 2022.
Creative Arts Teacher
B.S. Anthropology / Photography
Montessori Paraprofessional Certification
School Chef & Outdoor Physical Ed Teacher
A.A.S in Fisheries and Aquaculture
B.S. Natural Resources
Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) — formed in 2016.
- The specific purpose for which the STMS Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) was formed is to serve as an advisory body for strategic planning, measured growth, program and policy development, and a coordinating body for parent communication and parental involvement according to the school’s mission and vision and under the auspices of its Founder, Sabrina Binkley.
- PAC Members 2024-25
- Alli LeBon, PAC Chair – to contact Alli directly, please call 907-479-8733 to get phone/email information.
- Ashley Ellis
- Lynsie Olson
- Josh Evans
- Dennis Achman
- Ben Callahan
- Ryan Binkley, business partner