Meet our Team

Highly qualified and caring professionals - Meet our team!

The Sara Marie School is dedicated to bringing the the most highly talented team together under one roof to deliver the best in education, caring, and character building to our children.

Mrs. Katie Gifford (Director)

Mrs. Gifford is a graduate of The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has over 15 years of business and administrative experience. After Mrs. Gifford’s daughter graduated from The Sara Marie School, she continued to remain active in the school serving as the Emerald Ball Gala’s co-chair. Mrs. Gifford’s fundraising efforts brought much success to the school. She is now the director of The Sara Marie School and considers the staff, children, and families like a second family. Mrs. Gifford describes the school as warm, inviting, and a great place to grow! When not at school, Mrs. Gifford spends her time with her family. She also enjoys exercising and shopping!

Mrs. Joanna Pendergast (Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, Lead Teacher)

Mrs. Pendergast co-founded the school in 2012 in honor of her friend, Sara Marie. Mrs. Pendergast graduated from The College of Saint Rose with a degree in Early Childhood Education and has been teaching since 2010. In addition to several years of teaching Pre-Kindergarten, Mrs. Pendergast has also taught Nursery School and Kindergarten. When she’s not in the classroom teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son. Mrs. Pendergast loves working at The Sara Marie School because she considers it her second home! She loves forming close relationships with the students, families, and staff. Mrs. Pendergast believes that emotional intelligence is the core of Pre-K education and strives to incorporate it into her daily lessons.

Miss Kayla Cowell (Pre-Kindergarten Teacher)

Miss Cowell graduated from The State University of New York at Cobleskill with a B.S. in Early Childhood and is currently in the process of obtaining her M.S. in Childhood Education through SUNY Albany. Miss Cowell has worked in a variety of child care settings with children raging from 6 weeks- 8 years of age, most recently working for Northeast Parent and Child Society as a Waiver Service Provider. In her spare time, Miss Cowell enjoys spending time with her friends and family, working out, being outside, and baking. Miss Cowell says, "there are so many things that I love about The Sara Marie School, but what I love most is how it feels like a family. I get to work with other teachers who are the best of the best and work with children who put a smile on my face everyday. Waking up and being being excited to see what the day brings for you at work and actually love doing what you do, is the best feeling."

Mrs. Cynthia Ciotti (Nursery School Teacher)

Mrs. Ciotti is The Sara Marie School’s Nursery School Teacher and Art Teacher. She has over 30 years of teaching experience in Nursery School, Pre-K, and grades 4th through 6th. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Mercyhurst University with a minor in Theatre. She also holds a M.S. in Elementary Education from Edinboro University. Mrs. Ciotti brings her love of art and theatre into her classroom every day. She believes that Nursery School is an important time to explore and investigate the world, and most importantly to foster social skills.

Miss Lauren Schroeder (Kindergarten Teacher)

Miss Schroeder graduated from The College of Saint Rose with a B.S. in Childhood Education and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. Throughout the years, she has worked at many different elementary schools as a substitute teacher and most recently worked at St. Coleman's, a school for children with special needs. Ms. Schroeder loves to read, visit the library, cross stitch, and cook when she is not working. Miss Schroeder says, "The Sara Marie School is a loving, caring, and nurturing environment. We are able to offer students more individualized instruction while creating a second home for them. Our students are able to create new friendships at the same time that they are learning. It is amazing to work with a team of professionals that are always here to help and collaborate with".

Miss Johnna Mitola (Kindergarten Teacher)

Miss Mitola has a B.S. in Inclusive Elementary Education from Cazenovia College and a M.S. in Literacy from SUNY Albany. She has many years of experience working in classrooms at various grade levels and most recently taught 1st grade in a private school. In her spare time, Miss Mitola enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and baking. Miss Mitola says “I love absolutely everything about The Sara Marie School. I love the smiles and laughter on the student's faces when they walk through the door first thing in the morning. The Sara Marie school is a nurturing and caring environment, the student's know how much they are loved everyday here”.

Mrs. Brittany Moochler (Kindergarten-1st Grade Teacher)

Mrs. Brittany Moochler obtained her M.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY Potsdam. After years of working at a summer program for young students, Mrs. Moochler knew she wanted to be a teacher. She states, “I love having an impact on young learners! This school is filled with kind students who are smiley and eager to learn and a warm dedicated staff who puts their all into what they do each and everyday.” When not teaching in the K-1 classroom, Mrs. Moochler enjoys playing with her son Wyatt, kayaking, working out, and reading. She says, "The Sara Marie school is such a special and warm place and I’m thrilled to be a part of the team of teachers here!"

Mrs. Julie Ferdinand (Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Assistant)

Mrs. Ferdinand is a graduate of The College of Saint Rose with a degree in Public Communications and Business Administration. In addition to being a teacher assistant, Mrs. Ferdinand is a certified Life Coach with a specialty in ADHD and a NYS Parent Empowerment representative. She is also a fitness instructor with certification through MADD Dog Athletics, Power Pilates, and Child Light Yoga. Mrs. Ferdinand is a mother to 5 children, 2 of which graduated from The Sara Marie School. She has worked at The Sara Marie School since it opened in 2012 and states: “I love this school for so many reasons....I've been here since its birth and have watched it grow. The women I work with are some of the kindest, most giving people I have ever met and I LOVE that we make a difference in the lives of young children”.

Mrs. Lisa Bromm (Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Assistant)

Mrs. Bromm graduated from SUNY Potsdam with a degree in Art History. She has worked with young children for over 20 years and has been a teacher assistant at The Sara Marie School in both the Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. Before working at The Sara Marie School, Mrs. Bromm worked as an assistant at Tamarac Elementary School and The Susan Odell Taylor School for 11 years. After relocating to The Sara Marie School, Mrs. Bromm proclaims, “I'm so happy to be a part of the Sara Marie family….and it does feel like a family. From the moment I walked in I knew I wanted to work there. I feel blessed to be a part of it!”

Ms. Brook Blood (Nursery Teacher Assistant)

Ms. Brook has worked as a Teacher Assistant at The Sara Marie School for the past 3 years. She has several years of experience in childcare and loves working with young children. Ms. Brook is also an assistant in the Busy Bees After School Program and The Sara Marie School Summer Program. Ms. Brook is well known by all the students and families at The Sara Marie School and is a valued team member.

Mrs. Stefanie Rawls (Administrative Assistant)

Mrs. Rawls holds a Communications degree from SUNY Albany and has spent the past 15 years working in Marketing and Media. She most recently worked at WAMC Northeast Public Radio for 9 years as the Sales and Marketing Manager. Mrs. Rawls enjoys spending time with her friends and family and hosting pool parties at her house. Mrs. Rawls loves being a part of the warm and welcoming Sara Marie family. She says “this career is so rewarding by allowing me to spend time with your child(ren) as well as my own 2 year old daughter Izabel.”

Miss Sara Anderson (Busy Bees After School Director)

Miss Sara Anderson "Miss Sara" holds a B.S. in Community Health from SUNY Potsdam and previously worked at the YMCA of Glens Falls as a Site Director for the After School Care at Hudson Falls primary school from 2015-2016. She started there as an intern and summer camp employee. Her hobbies and include volleyball, hiking, camping, and spending time with friends and family. Miss Sara is excited to be part of The Sara Marie School "because both the kids and staff are great here. I look forward into coming to work enjoy. I love seeing the kids laugh and tell me that they like going to Busy Bee because I'm there. This school is really an amazing place to work at and I'm glad I get to be apart of it!"

Miss Sarah Watson (Substitute)

Ms. Sarah worked as a preschool summer camp teacher and has worked with children for the past 8 years in various settings. Ms. Sarah is graduating from The College of Saint Rose with a B.S. in Speech Pathology. She plans to continue her studies and obtain her M.S. in Speech Pathology as well. Ms. Sarah enjoys reading, playing with her dog, cooking/baking, exercising, and spending time with her family and friends. Ms. Sarah states, “my favorite thing about working at The Sara Marie School is the exceptional staff and wonderful students I work with. Although, I am not there every day, I feel that I am part of the school community and that I play an important role at the school. The students greet me with enthusiastic greetings and the teachers and staff do the same. I always feel appreciated for the hard work that I put into my job”.