Preschool to 5th Grade
Giving the future wings
Our Board of Directors
Chandler Strange
BOARD PRESIDENT
Chandler Strange spent 20 years working in fashion, art, and business administration in New York City. Eight years ago, she moved to a yurt on Rainbow Springs Trout Farm outside Durango and started a family with her husband, Patrick. Both their children attend Durango Montessori School. Chandler has a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and currently works as an artist and small business owner, and volunteers with other creative non-profits in the Durango community.
Julie Brenninkmeyer
SECRETARY
Julie Brenninkmeyer joined the board in 2022 and has a daughter growing up happily at DMS. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Education, she has been using her background to develop strong collaborations in STEM education and curriculum development. Julie has held project management positions at both Tufts University and the Museum of Science Boston where she co-authored the “Engineering the Future” curriculum for high school classrooms. She held several teaching and administration positions in the United States, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Julie was the Director of the Costa Verde International School in Sayulita, Mexico where she coordinated the efforts of staff and families to bring an environmentally conscious education to a diverse bi-lingual student body in a developing community. She lives in Durango, Colorado with her daughter, husband and dog, where she loves coaching and enjoys traveling, mountain biking and skiing with friends and family.
Lauren Dorzok
Lauren Dorzok was born and raised in Colorful Colorado. She landed in Durango to continue her Liberal Art Education at Fort Lewis College. After graduating with a double major in Political Science and Sociology, she never left. Lauren was blessed with a foundation in Montessori Education, her first teaching position was as a summer camp counselor at her Montessori School, in Golden, CO. Lauren specializes in Early Education and has held many positions working with children from birth through elementary. She currently works as the Practice Manager for a pediatric primary care practice in town. With 8 years of experience in pediatrics, she brings a unique perspective to the board. Lauren’s children are currently attending Durango Montessori School and you will often find them with their Goldendoodle sitting under the tree on the lawn for their daily gratitude practice. Their free time is spent roaming any outdoor space in search of the next adventure.
Steffanie Shreiber
With 18 years of experience in the field of education, Steffanie Schreiber brings her understanding of diverse academic and social emotional curricula, teaching in the classroom, leading and coaching educators, and a considerable number of education and community contacts as a Durango Montessori School board member.
Throughout her career, Steffanie has educated children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students, holding her Elementary Education and Secondary Social Studies Educator License in both Colorado and Texas. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History and Master of Education in Secondary Education from Texas Christian University, and most recently, completed the necessary requirements to be a licensed director of a large childcare center in Colorado.
Over the past 6 years, Steffanie has held a wide range of educational positions in Durango, most notably, her role as the previous director of Durango Montessori School, Intermediate Teacher at The Juniper School, and Reading Support Specialist at St. Columba School.
Passionate about Durango Montessori and how it serves students and families, Steffanie provides educator insight, school director coaching and support, community collaboration, and strategic planning for the school. She lives in Durango with her husband Jack, their three children Sutton, Elliot, and Deacon, and 3 dogs, a cat, rabbit, and hamster. When not subbing at local schools and working to advance the mission and vision of Durango Montessori, Steffanie is usually running her kiddos to and from activities, squeezing in outdoor walks, some pampering, practicing French on Duolingo, and convincing her husband that they need to plan their next vacation.
TREASURER
Bobby Tober
Beginning at a young age Tober began working under his grandfather’s mentorship, whose creative abilities and skills included remodeling/repairing cars, woodworking, designing jewelry, and home repairs. Working for his dad's company, Tober first began as a convenience store technician and repair man and later received his bachelor degree in architecture. After graduating, he worked for an architecture firm designing schools throughout the state of Texas. Those combined experiences taught Tober the necessary skills he would need to create and build furniture, lighting mechanisms and design buildings.
Tober worked with and later directed general contractors and architects in residential, public, and business projects. With an emphasis on school design and construction program management, Tober has 30+ years experience in design and construction related areas including landscaping, lighting design and creation, building furniture, and drafting structural drawings.
Tober moved to Durango in 2021 and his son proudly attends Durango Montessori.
Anna Layden
Anna Layden has been an educator in Durango for the past 20 years, and she got her start as a Lower Elementary teacher at Durango Montessori from 2005-2014. She is passionate about Montessori education and is excited to have her sons begin their own journey at DMS in the 2024-25 school year.
Anna has a BA in English, several teaching licenses, an MS in Educational Leadership, and a Montessori teaching certification. She currently works at San Juan BOCES while also providing private psychoeducational evaluations to students all over SW Colorado. She is grateful for the opportunity to stay connected at DMS, where she first found her calling as an educator.
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