Strategic Vision

By 2025, grow SCMS's capacity to fully enroll an upper elementary level and meet the current demand for all levels by increasing program offerings, recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and providing child and family enrichment opportunities that differentiate SCMS as an inspirational Montessori school of choice.

Progress toward this vision will be measured by the following:

  • A larger enrollment capacity for the school

  • Waitlists for the toddler, children’s house, and elementary classrooms

  • Student and staff retention

  • Parent and staff satisfaction

  • Community participation in education opportunities

  • Enrichment programs offered

Four Focus Areas

Each area contains a rationale statement connecting it to the strategic vision and the tactics that will be used to fulfill it. They address overall growth for the school and ensure the staff, community, governance, and financial strength and stability to achieve the vision.

  • The area surrounding St. Croix Montessori School is experiencing residential growth resulting in interest in the toddler environment exceeding SCMS’s capacity to enroll new families.  Additionally, the community values the unique school property and expresses interest in creating additional programming options for students, including a junior high.  To enhance program offerings, SCMS will:

    • Determine the ideal number of programs at each Montessori level to meet the community’s needs while maintaining the school’s financial stability with optimum timing for growth at each level.

    • Analyze the existing indoor and outdoor environments to determine how to accommodate any new programs.

    • Prioritize program and environmental enhancement opportunities based on interest and financial means with phased implementation commencing in 2022/23.

  • The culture and engagement of the school community – inclusive of parents, staff, extended family, and school alumni – has long been a strength and differentiator of SCMS. Parent awareness of Montessori methods and principles, as well as meaningful connections between parents and staff, contribute to community loyalty and a more effective and positive experience for parents and students. Encouraging the active engagement of the community as well as a strong understanding of the unique Montessori method and its benefit to students will enable retention. 

    • Provide a variety of opportunities for Montessori education to improve community members’ awareness of the unique benefits offered by each stage of an accredited Montessori education.

    • Create opportunities for social connectedness between community members to encourage a sense of belonging and ownership.

    • Evaluate the initiation of a parent association to encourage family engagement and volunteerism and provide support to the school community.

  • A highly qualified staff is the foundation of a sustainable AMI Montessori school.  In addition to the expertise of caring and specialized Guides and Assistants, Montessori children uniquely benefit from prepared environments, intentionally developed materials, and customized attention delivered through ongoing interaction and observation.  As SCMS expands its programming options, it will create a comprehensive staffing plan inclusive of retention and development for existing staff members, recruitment of new staff members, and optimization of benefit offerings to support those staff members as SCMS embraces the longer-term effects of the pandemic on the community.

    • Ensure that all staff members have opportunities for advancement via professional development, including SCMS sponsorship for enrollment in additional training to maintain and grow the skillset to support current and future SCMS programs.

    • Evaluate needs for additional administrative and teaching resources to support growth; develop long-term staffing and resource plan.

    • Ensure the school proactively maximizes awareness, consideration, and enrollment by implementing a staffed marketing function at SCMS. 

  • To achieve its strategic plan vision, SCMS will remain focused on the foundational building blocks that support a strong future for the school. A long-term financial and governance plan will support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, enable SCMS to meet the local demand for high-quality Montessori education, and maintain the unique opportunity for its students to engage with and care for the environment.  

    • Create a financial plan to support the long-term stability of SCMS.  

    • Take steps to educate the Board and Administration on opportunities to promote and support a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.  

    • Ensure optimal governance and HOS support by developing a recruiting, development, and succession plan for the SCMS Board of Trustees

    • Promote environmental sustainability practices and how they are incorporated into the SCMS experience as a differentiator from schools in the surrounding community.   

Meet the Board

  • Ross Behling

    Board Chair

    Ross holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Iowa State University and has over 10 years of experience in 3M’s corporate research labs, specializing in developing adhesives for electronics, appliance, and automotive applications. He has actively participated in 3M's STEM outreach programs, mentoring middle and high school students. A proponent of education and the Montessori method, Ross is excited to contribute his expertise as a member of the SCMS board.

  • Christina Caubet

    Secretary

    Christina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religious Studies from Penn State University and a Paralegal Studies certification from Villanova University. With 15 years of experience in legal services, she specializes in supporting early-stage startups through corporate governance and securities transactions. Currently, Christina serves as a Legal Operations Manager at a SaaS company focused on educational software and assessments.

  • Lauren O'Keefe

    Trustee

    Lauren holds a strong foundation in mathematics, developed through her early education in Montessori schools, which inspired her career as a Biostatistician. She currently conducts statistical analyses for medical research at Solventum. A firm believer in the Montessori method, Lauren values its ability to nurture curiosity and talent, which she now sees reflected in her children's education at SCMS. Lauren also serves on the SCMS Finance Committee.

  • Kristina Burrows

    Trustee

    Kristina holds a Master’s in Chemistry from Columbia University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. As a Managing Director at ARCH Venture Partners, she focuses on building companies that positively impact human health and well-being. A co-founder of several Montessori schools emphasizing bilingual education, Kristina is an SCMS parent with one child who has graduated and two currently enrolled. She also plays a lead role in the Junior High Task Force, guiding the development of this exciting expansion.

  • Michele Manning

    Trustee

    Michele holds an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems and later earned an Associate Degree in Graphic Design along with a Certificate in Professional Photography. She has over 15 years of experience operating her own photography business, specializing in family, children, and newborn portraiture. An SCMS parent since 2019, Michele is passionate about creative expression and supporting the school community.

  • Brooke Kjos

    Trustee

    Brooke holds a BSBA from Creighton University, where she played Division 1 soccer and studied abroad in Australia. She spent two years working at Skagerak International School in Norway, where she developed an appreciation for teaching methods aligned with the Montessori philosophy. Currently, Brooke serves as the Marketing Director for Directa Dental USA, is a head coach for girls' high school soccer in the St. Croix River area, and is actively involved in the St. Croix Soccer Club and the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.

  • Jake Novak

    Trustee

    Jake Novak is the Owner and Craftsman of Tooth and Nail Builders, a company he founded in 2013. He is dedicated to sustainable building practices and values environmental stewardship. As a parent of two at SCMS, Jake is dedicated to supporting the school’s expansion to provide more children with the opportunity for a high-quality education. His expertise in design and construction is invaluable to SCMS’s growth and development.

  • Dan Fishelson

    Trustee

    Dan brings decades of experience in retail and sales owning his business focused on commercial real estate and storage development. He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Marketing and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Dan’s background in business operations and property development supports SCMS’s long-term planning and strategic growth initiatives.

  • Amy Davis

    Trustee

    Amy spent nearly a decade in nonprofit fundraising and administration before earning her MBA from the University of St. Thomas. She joined 3M in Corporate Finance and now works in Corporate Strategy, supporting long-term planning and business growth. Amy also holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and brings valuable experience from both nonprofit and corporate sectors to her role on the SCMS Board of Trustees.