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.

We appreciate our board members donating their time and expertise.

If you are interested in joining the board or a board committee, or 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.

If you would like to contact the Board, please email them at fmsboard@fairbanksmontessori.org.

For school year 2023-2024, we are pleased to welcome the following new Board Members: Lois Barger, Nickol Dameron, Erin Keiper, Frances Tilney Burke, and Christine Timm. Our new Board members are FMS parents, and professionals with a wide range of experience, qualifications, and skills.

Bios and photos to come soon.

Shaun Kraska

Board President

Shaun is a life-long Alaskan who has always loved working with school age young people in and around school systems.  She served as a teacher and administrator for 31 years in the local public school system, retired, and is now involved in the FMS school community.  Her granddaughter has been at FMS for two years and has blossomed under the care and guidance of Sra Chio and her classroom support staff. 

Shaun chose to become involved with the Board because she believes in the Montessori approach to learning, she has witnessed first hand the care and planning that goes into the attention and work the entire staff does daily on behalf of all of the students.  She has time to give and enjoys being a part of something that is so good and so positive for young people and their families.  When not chasing her granddaughter around and making great memories with her, Shaun and her husband Tim enjoy fishing, spending time at their family cabin, hiking, and camping. Shaun also cross-country skis, runs, bikes and most recently has become a licensed realtor.

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Kristen Sublett

Board Member

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!

Rachel Duvlea

Board Member

I was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. I moved to Alaska after graduating from the University of Michigan in 2005. My husband Brandon Duvlea, was born and raised in Fairbanks. I’m a criminal defense attorney at the Office of Public Advocacy representing indigent clients.  Brandon and I currently have two kids at FMS, Osa and Siggardt, in Ms. Evonne’s class. As a family we love spending as much time as we can exploring the outdoors, Winter Spring Summer and Fall!  We absolutely love the community, school and staff that we’ve found at FMS!  We feel so grateful that our little ones have had such a wonderful introduction to their learning journey thus far and know that it has already set them up for great success going forward. I wanted to join the board to help support the school and staff wherever I can, so that they can keep doing the important job that they do so well! Excited to serve the FMS community as a board member.


Lauren Cerny

Board Member

Lauren was born in Napa, CA and met her husband, Wyatt Cerny, in San Francisco in 2011. In 2016, they made the move back to Wyatt’s hometown of Fairbanks. They have a son, Parker, in Ms. Evonne’s class and plan to enroll their daughter, Blair, at FMS in 2023!

Her family loves Alaska and the Fairbanks community. They spend a lot of time outside around a campfire in the Summer and dream of new places to explore in the Winter.

Lauren works remotely for the mindfulness and meditation app, Calm, doing Customer Experience Operations and is passionate about mindfulness for kids. She also enjoys entertaining, cooking, and visiting with friends.

Kaitlin Peacock

Board Member

Before moving to Fairbanks in 2022, Kate was in contact with Fairbanks Montessori looking to connect with a school in line with her values.  Fairbanks Montessori proved to be just what her family was looking for – an environment fostering respect, creativity, and independence.  Beyond schooling, the teachers and staff instilled a sense of community which Kate wanted to serve back to through the Board.   Kate, her husband, Jason, and their son live on Fort Wainwright and have embraced the Alaskan lifestyle enjoying many new outdoor adventures.  She works remotely for the Army Corps of Engineers.