Staff Directory
Sabrina Binkley
Director
Sabrina@sprucetreemontessori.com
Sabrina was born and raised in rural Colorado and attended the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) on a volleyball scholarship. She earned a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering there and enjoyed a well-rounded experience as a college-athlete. She met her husband, Ryan Binkley, at CSM and moved to Alaska in 2001 to begin her life in Alaska and her career in engineering. After a short time with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, she began work in the family business at the Riverboat Discovery. For the past 8 years she has worked as Vice President of Retail Sales and as the Head Buyer for the company.
She is involved in the community in several ways including serving on the United Way Board of Directors and is a charter member of the Golden Heart Rotary Club of Fairbanks where she is currently sitting President-elect. She developed a passion for Montessori education when she realized how beneficial it was for her son at the primary level. His interest in learning was evident and he was engaged in his work. Sabrina began to study the methodology. She joined the Fairbanks Montessori School Board of Directors in January 2010 and served as Vice President for two years. Her son Simon Binkley attended Fairbanks Montessori School for three years (age 3 – 6) completing his kindergarten year there. He is a member of the inaugural class at Spruce Tree Montessori School.
Mrs. Coe Kropuenske
Lead Lower Elementary Teacher and Curriculum Director
coe@sprucetreemontessori.com
Coe grew up in Winona, Minnesota. She attended Millikin University in Decatur, IL on a vocal scholarship and graduated with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. While in college, Coe sang in the touring concert choir, performed in the show choir, and was in many musical theatre productions. After college, Coe performed with many professional theatre companies. Coe first traveled to Alaska while touring with the Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s A Christmas Carol. While pursuing her performing career in Chicago, her “day job” was as a nanny. She came to find working with children more fulfilling and decided to pursue Montessori training. She discovered Montessori education was her true passion—her “cosmic task.”
Coe comes to Spruce Tree Montessori with over ten years of Montessori experience in both Children’s House and lower elementary classrooms. She was a founding member of Riverway Learning Community, a Minnesota Public Charter School, where she taught for many years. Coe met her husband, Matt, while teaching together at Riverway. They have been married over 11 years and are blessed with two children. Phoebe is 10 and will be starting 5th grade this fall. Brandon is 6 and will be part of Spruce Tree Montessori School’s inaugural 1st grade class. Coe’s American Montessori Society credentials include Early Childhood (Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, Evanston, Illinois) and Elementary I & II (The Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at St. Catherine’s University, St. Paul, Minnesota).
Coe attended a Montessori Children’s House herself and has fond memories of working with the Montessori bells and the trinomial cube. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to start building new memories in the last frontier with the children, families, and staff of Spruce Tree Montessori School.
