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 two sons. 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 Brianna Kelly (Pre-Kindergarten Teacher)
Miss. Kelly graduated from The College of Saint Rose with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is currently pursuing a M.S. in Childhood Education and Literacy Education. Miss. Kelly has several years of experience working with children. Prior to coming to The Sara Marie School, she worked as a nanny for three years, and was a lead teacher for children ages eighteen months to three
years of age, at an early childcare center. Miss. Kelly says, “From the moment I walked into The Sara Marie School, I knew it was
special. The teachers here are all so passionate about what they do, and the atmosphere is so welcoming and positive. I enjoy seeing
the children walk into the school each morning, with a smile on their face, eager to play and learn!” In her spare time, Miss. Kelly
enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, boating in Lake George, and walking the local trails with her dog, Jack!
years of age, at an early childcare center. Miss. Kelly says, “From the moment I walked into The Sara Marie School, I knew it was
special. The teachers here are all so passionate about what they do, and the atmosphere is so welcoming and positive. I enjoy seeing
the children walk into the school each morning, with a smile on their face, eager to play and learn!” In her spare time, Miss. Kelly
enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, boating in Lake George, and walking the local trails with her dog, Jack!
Miss Jenna Czub (Nursery School Teacher)
Miss. Czub graduated from The College of Saint Rose with a B.S in Childhood Education and Special Education. She knew from the age of three that teaching was her passion. Miss. Czub says “It’s not working when you love what you do. There is nothing that compares to the excitement a child displays when they discover or learn something new. Each day they are growing, learning and exploring. To be a part of that and guide them through social situations, understanding their emotions and teaching them academics is absolutely amazing to me.” This is her first year at The Sara Marie School. She says, “I couldn’t ask for a better team and family to work with. Everybody at TSMS is so supportive of each other and truly loves what they do each and every day. ” During her down time Miss. Czub loves to relax with a book, and spend time outside going for walks, hiking or canoeing with her two dogs and boyfriend.
Miss Danielle McGee (Kindergarten Teacher)
Miss McGee graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She is currently working on her M.S. in Literacy at SUNY Albany. Miss McGee has many years of classroom experience working in public, private and Montessori school settings. Recently she covered various maternity leaves, including middle school special education and kindergarten maternity leaves, one of which was here at The Sara Marie School! Miss McGee says “The Sara Marie School is different from other schools. We are more like a family. We truly care about the students and we all want to make a difference in our student’s lives. I am so excited to start my first year of teaching at such a wonderful school!” In her free time, Miss McGee enjoys traveling, kayaking, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Mrs. Kayla Giuliano (Kindergarten Teacher)
Mrs. Giuliano graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cobleskill in 2014, where she received a B.S. in Early Childhood. Mrs. Giuliano is working towards obtaining her Masters in Behavior Analysis and Autism from Russel Sage College. She has been working with young children for the past 8 years in a wide variety of school and child care settings. Mrs. Giuliano says "ever since I was a young child myself, I always envisioned myself as a Kindergarten teacher and I am so happy to be pursuing my dream here at The Sara Marie School! I have been with The Sara Marie School for the past 3 years and I have enjoyed every second. I love TSMS because of the warm, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere you will not find anywhere else! I am blessed to work with supportive, incredible teachers!" In her down time, you can find her enjoying time outdoors with her husband and puppy named Tucker, working out, reading, and fishing.
Mrs. Giuliano graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cobleskill in 2014, where she received a B.S. in Early Childhood. Mrs. Giuliano is working towards obtaining her Masters in Behavior Analysis and Autism from Russel Sage College. She has been working with young children for the past 8 years in a wide variety of school and child care settings. Mrs. Giuliano says "ever since I was a young child myself, I always envisioned myself as a Kindergarten teacher and I am so happy to be pursuing my dream here at The Sara Marie School! I have been with The Sara Marie School for the past 3 years and I have enjoyed every second. I love TSMS because of the warm, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere you will not find anywhere else! I am blessed to work with supportive, incredible teachers!" In her down time, you can find her enjoying time outdoors with her husband and puppy named Tucker, working out, reading, and fishing.
Mrs. Brittany Moochler (Kindergarten 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 classroom, Mrs. Moochler enjoys playing with her children Wyatt and Riley, 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. Devin Weller (Literacy Teacher)
Mrs. Weller graduated with a B.S. in Childhood/Early Childhood Education from SUNY Potsdam in 2015. She is currently working towards her M.S in Literacy at SUNY Albany. Mrs. Weller has worked in a number of roles with children over the years; ranging from camp counselor to teaching assistant to kindergarten teacher to this year becoming The Sara Marie School’s literacy specialist! Mrs. Weller says, “I love being able to work in such a warm environment with people who care so deeply about the kids that come through Sara Marie’s doors! I’ve wanted to be a teacher my entire life and I’m so lucky to be able to do it in a place like this! Sharing my love of reading with so many children is really a dream come true.” In her free time, you can find Mrs. Weller spending time with her husband, her daughter, and their two dogs or baking something delicious.
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 5 year old daughter Izabel and 2 year old son Clayton.”
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!"