The BOD is seeking applicants for new Board members! If you'd like to help guide MPA, we'd love to have you join the board! Please apply by April 5th (instructions below).
The BOD approved small increases in the 25-26 preschool tuition and before care/after care programs.
To give you some flavor for what being a Board member entails, here's a list of what current Board members are most proud of accomplishing during their terms.

Emily: Successfully getting our charter renewed for another 5 years, which will secure the future of MPA.
Elizabeth: Being a voice for the staff to make sure they’re being heard.
Adam: Getting the new marquees.
Ted: Officially opening the middle school!
Justin: Navigating the successful leadership transition that brought us Robin.
Rubecca: Seeing the reality of the North campus develop from drawings, throughout construction, and into a thriving campus that hosts middle school, home school and MPA community events.

What does the MPA Board Do?

The Board creates, updates and maintains MPA's strategic plan, which includes effectively evaluating the effectiveness of the Board, Staff, Administration and Students. They attend scheduled board meetings every month throughout year; constantly reviewing the professional leadership of the school, community relations, educational leadership, organizational management, and financial management; address monthly agenda items; review and maintain the current year's operating budget as well as create a budget for the next year; develop MPA policies; and support and promote the Vision and Mission Statement of MPA.

All Board members are committed to ensuring the success of MPA through alignment of vision and our mission with the best practices of professional and quality education. The Principal, Business Manager, Assistant Principal, and the Staff Liaison, who is elected by the MPA staff, also attend all Board of Directors meetings.

Communicating with the Board

The Board meets once a month to discuss the various elements of school governance. These meetings are open to the public and open to any community member who might wish to attend. While the meetings are open, it is important to remember this is a formal meeting and the dialogue primarily exists between Board members as they discuss the various items on the agenda. However, there is a designated time for community members to share their thoughts with the Board during each meeting. This time is called “Community Comments,” and you are welcome to sign up to speak during this time. A sign-up sheet for comments can be found on the lobby bulletin board of the school, along with the meeting agenda.

If you wish to share ideas or concerns with the Board, you are welcome to reach out to any Board member individually. Contact information for each member is found on the school website. The Board welcomes feedback from the community!

For reference, all corporate documents (i.e. by-laws, articles of incorporation, BOD policies) are located on the school website and are also available in the front office and are available for public review upon request. The Board does not generally have access to confidential files of students, school personnel or other federally or state mandated confidential information.

Board Meetings

Regular meetings of the MPA Board of Directors are held on the third Tuesday of every month, starting at 6:30 pm at Montessori Peaks Academy or virtually.
All regular meetings are open to the public.
All members of the school community are cordially invited to attend all open meetings of the Board.
A time for public comment is a part of every regular Board meeting. An agenda will be posted prior to the meeting in the Board Meeting folder on the bulletin board inside the front door of the school, and the board documents webpage.

2024-25 Regular Board Meeting Schedule

MPA Board Regular Meeting Schedule
July 16, 2024 - Regular Meeting	Aug. 20, 2024 - Regular Meeting	Sept. 17, 2024 - Regular Meeting	Oct. 15, 2024 - Regular Meeting
Nov. 19, 2024 - Regular Meeting	Dec. 17, 2024 - Regular Meeting	Jan. 21, 2025 - Regular Meeting	Feb. 18, 2025 - Regular Meeting - Virtual
March 18, 2025 - Regular Meeting - Virtual	April 15, 2025 - Regular Meeting	May 20, 2025 - Regular Meeting	June 17, 2025 - Regular Meeting

Board of Directors Documents and Minutes

All corporate documents (i.e. by-laws, articles of incorporation, BOD policies) are located in this section of the website. There are also hard copies available in the front office which are available for public review.

All Board Meetings can be viewed live by visiting our YouTube Channel. If you miss the live version you can replay the video on our YouTube channel as well. Click the link below to subscribe and view our channel.

Meet the Board Members

Emily Splitek

Emily Splitek, President

Email: esplitek@mpaboard.org

Bio: Emily is the parent of two MPA kids. She is an attorney who specializes in environmental enforcement for the State of Colorado. As a member of the MPA Board, she hopes to lend her skills to help MPA grow, while still being true to its Montessori roots. In her spare time, Emily enjoys biking and getting outside. She and her family have especially enjoyed volunteering in the pollinator garden.

Adam Livingston

Adam Livingston, Vice President

Email: alivingston@mpaboard.org

Bio: After graduating from George Mason University, Adam took off for the Peace Corps and ultimately ended up in Southern Africa where he taught English and computers in a local high school. After his time in the Peace Corps ended he returned to Africa where he landed a paying job as the manager of a large-scale mosquito net distribution in remote areas of South Sudan.

Adam returned to the United States where he went on to receive a Master’s degree in International Development at the University of Denver, and remained in Denver where he started a family. Together with his family, Adam moved to Jefferson County to fulfill his goal of sending his children to Montessori Peaks. Adam remains passionate about social justice and technology.

Justin Sasso

Justin Sasso, Treasurer

Email: jsasso@mpaboard.org

Bio: As a parent of a Montessori Peaks Academy student, I am deeply interested in my child’s education and the institution that guides her education. As the President and CEO of a non-profit 501(c)6, I understand the intricacies of business development, management and budgeting under a not-for-profit status.

I currently serve on the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, a group that works to grow open records access and provide Colorado citizens access to their government. I organize an annual awards of excellence gala for 500 broadcasters, have managed international media pools for Colorado court cases and meet regularly with Colorado’s congressional delegation.

Rubecca Martinez Dalton

Rubecca Martinez Dalton, Secretary

Email: rdalton@mpaboard.org

Bio: After taking apart her family’s phone, disassembling the vacuum and starting the microwave on fire, it was evident that Rubecca had a knack for tinkering and an insatiable curiosity. Using those skills for good, rather than evil, meant attending Colorado School of Mines where she obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering before spending 15 years as a Welding Engineer for a Fortune 500 company. As a “Subject Matter Expert” in Welding, Rubecca’s role was ensuring code compliance and quality assurance…basically making sure things didn’t melt, fall apart, blow up or start on fire. She brings a strong background in QA/QC to the board, along with a passion for using the resources already on hand to innovate and improve efficiency.

Rubecca’s intense need to follow where curiosity leads means she now runs her own Pilates studio, and spends a lot of time trying new things and exploring with her favorite sidekick, who happens to be an Upper El student at MPA.

Ted Sanders

Ted Sanders, Director

Email: tsanders@mpaboard.org

Bio: As a proud parent of three MPA students, it is my privilege to serve the MPA community as the school enters its next exciting growth phase. Our family has been a part of MPA for five years, and we are deeply appreciative that our children are able to learn in such a unique and supportive environment.

With a background in engineering, business, and law, I hope to be a resource for the school and board as we navigate new challenges, including building out the middle school and continuing to grow our respectful and welcoming community. Away from school and work, you can find our family hiking, biking, dancing, and enjoying all that our side of Colorado has to offer.

Elizabeth Lewis

Elizabeth Lewis, Staff Representative

Email: elewis@mpaboard.org

Bio: Elizabeth Lewis has been a part of the MPA community for eleven years. She is a parent of two MPA student alumni. During her time as a member of the MPA community she has filled several roles including parent volunteer, Primary Floater, MPA PTA President, and Lower Elementary Teaching Assistant. Elizabeth looks forward to continuing to serve the MPA community as Staff Representative on the MPA Board of Directors.

Bryan Fife

Bryan Fire, Director

Email: bfife@mpaboard.org

As a parent of two MPA students, Bryan is invested in the future of his children's education and the MPA community. Bryan is honored to serve MPA as a member of the Board of Directors. With extensive experience in government administration and a background in law, he will bring his expertise to ensure the future and continued success of MPA and the Montessori principles.

In his spare time, Bryan enjoys being outdoors and the splendor of Colorado through trail-running, rock climbing and hiking. You will likely see him on Fridays picking up his two girls. If so, feel free to approach him to discuss anything from the best running trails to ideas about how we can continue the success of MPA.

Christine Sarnow

Christine Sarnow, Director

Email: csarnow@mpaboard.org

As a dedicated mom of three, with two little daughters thriving at MPA, Christine brings more than a decade of marketing and events leadership to the board. Last year's Celebration of Learning was a real eye-opener for her as she saw kids making their own projects, which blew her away. That's what Montessori is all about-nurturing passion and independence. She is all about growth, whether scaling departments or watching her kids flourish. She wants every child at MPA to feel that same sense of excitement and empowerment.

Beyond the boardroom, you'll find her outdoors, hiking with her family, or bringing the community together around a good cause. She's here to bring that same energy and passion to Montessori Peaks Academy, ensuring every kid's journey is educational and truly transformative in a way that makes their lives, and those around them, better every day.