Board of Directors
Desert Montessori School is governed by a Board of Directors. Primary responsibilities of the Board are to insure the financial viability of the school, set overall policies of the school, and hire the Head of School who makes the day-to-day decisions on the running of the school. The Board does not involve itself in the day-to-day decisions of the school.
The Board manages the affairs of the Non-Profit, is responsible for overall policy, direction of the School, budget approval, and delegates responsibility for day-to-day operations to the Leadership Team and Committees. The Board consists of no more than 9 members and no less than 5, and members receive no compensation for Board membership. The Board meets no less than 4 times per school year with one meeting being an Annual meeting open to all parents, students, and teachers.
The Desert Montessori School Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 School Year are:
Terry Martinson
Chair
Terry is a retired physician from Minnesota. Upon retirement, Terry and his wife moved to Santa Fe. Throughout his career Terry has practiced medicine, led a large multi-specialty physician group, served on several non-profit boards, and owned and operated a small business. He is strongly committed to an educational philosophy that recognizes children have different learning styles and it is our job to accommodate and encourage those differences rather than force them to work in a one size fits all learning environment. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his grandkids, cooking gourmet meals, fly fishing, travel, and growing orchids.
Carrie Frias
member
Lauren Pineda
Treasurer
Lauren was born and raised in Santa Fe and, after a few years away earning her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, found her way back home. She spent several years working as the Operations Manager at a local investment advisory firm before deciding to go back to school for Accounting—finishing just in time to welcome her first child. These days, life is full and lively. When she’s not driving her two kids to and from DMS, she’s running her own bookkeeping business and working as a private estate manager in Tesuque. She and her husband live there with their two children, six alpacas, and seven chickens, all of whom keep things interesting.
travis degiorgis
member