Our Board
Dan Ruggles – Board President
Dan Ruggles, Trustee since 2017, is the President of The SxS Group, an investment firm based in Bozeman, MT. Before moving to Bozeman in 2001, he studied Environmental Science and Urban Planning at the University of Denver. In his free time, Dan enjoys trail running, skiing, fly fishing, and spending time with his two boys.
Mitch Johnson – Secretary/Treasurer
Mitch grew up in Helena, MT and went to college in Bozeman, MT. He studied accounting and received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Accounting. He started working at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and was exposed to all aspects of Bank Examinations. He then worked at Rocky Mountain Bank in the Special Assets department learning how to rehabilitate businesses back to performing, or unfortunately liquidating the business. Through this credit experience he transitioned to the Finance and Operations side of the bank where he became the Head of Finance and Operations at Rocky Mountain Bank. During his time at Rocky Mountain Bank, he also attended and graduated from the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado. He then transitioned his financial knowledge to the Bank of Bozeman and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer. Mitch and his wife Trish have two wonderful children that both go BSS. Mitch enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, climbing, and fishing.
Lindsay Alexander
I am currently a First Grade teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School in Bozeman, MT. I grew up in Spokane, Washington and attended Washington State University from 2003-2005. I moved to Bozeman in 2005 and attended Montana State University. I have my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education K-8 and my reading endorsement from Montana State University. I have been teaching in the Bozeman community for 15 years. I am married to my husband of 12 years, Gregg Alexander, and we have two daughters, Addison and Ella. We love camping, hiking, skiing, and spend most of our weekends watching our daughters play soccer!
Nancy Characklis
Nancy is the founder and directress of The Learning Circle Montessori School Early Childhood Program and the founder of The Learning Circle Montessori Elementary School/Bozeman Summit School. Nancy worked at the School of the Woods, a Montessori school in Houston from 1972-1979. In 1977, she and her family spent a year in Switzerland where she taught in the Intercommmunity School in Zurich. She has more than 30 years of experience as a Montessori teacher and administrator and three years of experience in the public schools of Connecticut and Ohio. She graduated from Towson State College in 1964 with a Bachelor’s degree in education and earned two credentials from the American Montessori Society for preprimary and elementary. Nancy also founded and was The Head of School at The Learning Circle Montessori Elementary School/Bozeman Summit School from its inception in 1997 through August of 2003.
Katie Dolen
Katie Dolen is an early childhood educator, with a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and over ten years of progressive teaching experience. Before settling in Bozeman, Katie was lucky enough to teach in some of the most progressive schools in New York City and Los Angeles. Most notable, Katie was hired as a constructivist member of Blue School; a Reggio-inspired pre-through-middle-school formed by the founding members of The Blue Man Group. During her eight year tenure, Katie wrote thoughtful curriculum, taught in the classroom, and served on various leadership committees intended to strengthen the school’s mission and culture. Most recently Katie founded, State of Play; a creative art and play space and preschool in Bozeman. Katie’s high level of expertise and experience confirms her ability to design programming benefitting the development of children and fostering the connection between parents and caregivers. Katie is honored to join the BSS Board and feels passionately about contributing to an inclusive space for families.
Katie is mom to Bo Violet age 4 at Bozeman Summit School.