Our School

IMG_8664Spruce Tree Montessori School was founded on March 8, 2012 by Sabrina Binkley, an inspired parent, whose son attended Fairbanks Montessori School in Fairbanks, Alaska for three years.

During its inaugural year, Spruce Tree Montessori School welcomed seven students, in grades first and second. The following summer, Spruce Tree added an early childhood program for children ages 2 1/2 – 6 and created an authentic Montessori environment for preschool and kindergarten children. During the following years, community interest and demand, along with a dedicated attention to the ideals of Montessori education allowed the school to grow to 75 students by its fifth year, fall 2016, at which time the school relocated to downtown Fairbanks, now housed in the repurposed historic Fairbanks train depot after a significant renovation. The school’s enrollment is now 95 with 14 full time professional educators.

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Spruce Tree Montessori School is a year round educational experience.

Our innovative calendar offers the best opportunity for supportive, continuous learning for children ages 2 1/2 to 12, preK – 6th grade.

Spruce Tree currently employs five lead teachers and four teacher assistants (two who serve dual roles), an Administrative Director, an Educational Director, a professional School Counselor with a Master’s in Education & Community Counseling, a PE Teacher, a Spanish Teacher, a chef, an educational aide, and a Head of School with a BS in Petroleum Engineering and her credential in Montessori School Administration.

The school is primarily supported by tuition. A couple of small fundraising activities are planned each year, along with one major fundraiser in the spring, the Spruce Tree Trivia & Tapas event, all of which serve to raise community awareness about the school and funds for the Friends of Spruce Tree Montessori School organization, a 501C3 organization that supports enrollment and employment at Spruce Tree through scholarship awards and support of specific projects.

Strategically, Spruce Tree Montessori seeks to sustain its reputation within the Fairbanks-North Pole community by providing a top-notch experience for children and families. In order to solidify its place in the educational community and lead through resiliency, Spruce Tree implemented a year round school calendar Fall 2014, stayed in person throughout the pandemic, and started a toddler program this fall!

Communication is key to our success. Here’s how our wheel turns!
COMMUNICATION WHEEL

Core school events have transformed our community. Here is a listing of what we do and how we do it. Event Purpose & Protocol Guide