Rev. Stephen Rocker
Rev. Stephen Rocker grew up in Port Leyden, NY, the youngest of six children.  He graduated from South Lewis Central School in Turin and Wadhams Hall Seminary-College in Ogdensburg.  He has graduate degrees in theology and philosophy from the University of Louvain (Belgium) and the University of Ottawa (Canada). He taught philosophy and was part of the formation staff at Wadhams Hall
Seminary-College and has served in a number of parishes in the Diocese of Ogdensburg as well as in the former diocesan mission in Peru.  He has been pastor of St. James and Sacred Heart parishes in Gouverneur and Edwards since July 2008.

Principal
Mrs. Bridgette LaPierre
Mrs. LaPierre is enjoying her 2nd year as principal.  Prior to this, Mrs. LaPierre taught preschool at St. James and has been an active volunteer in the parish and school all her life.  Previously she taught K at St. Mary’s Catholic School and spent 5 years in a public school  as an elementary teacher.  She worked as an adjunct professor for the State University of Potsdam and currently serves as a college supervisor of student teachers.  Mrs. LaPierre strives to maintain a faith filled school not only for her 2 daughters but for all of her children at St. James School

Secretary
Mrs. Marie Frenyea
Mrs. Frenyea has been actively involved as a volunteer at St. James School from the time her three children attended St. James School beginning in 1977.  She has been our school secretary since 2000.  She has served on the Education Council and many other committees through out her many years at St. James

Preschool/Pre-K
Miss Penny Rice
Miss Rice is completing her second year as our Preschool/Pre-K teacher at St. James School.  Miss Rice is a native of Gouverneur and graduated from Gouverneur High School.  She received her Bachelors Degree from SUNY Potsdam and is currently working on her masters in literacy. 

Miss Rice has a great love for children and has always wanted to be a teacher.  Miss Rice would like to welcome anyone to feel free to stop by and say hello.

School.Cafeteria
Mrs. Sandy Maloy
Mrs. Maloy is our cafeteria manager who has been employed at St. James School for 15 years.  She was a volunteer while her three children attended St. James School.  As St. James graduates, her children now an RN, another interning as an Architect and the third a college graduate currently employed on the family farm have fond memories of St. James School.

Kindergarten
Mrs. Sarah Staib
Mrs. Staib is completing her second year as the Kindergarten teacher at St. James School.  Mrs. Staib is from Ohio and moved to Gouverneur in 2005.  She received her Bachelor’s from Ohio Dominican University in 2004 in Columbus, Ohio.  She is currently pursuing her Masters degree as a Literacy Specialist from SUNY Potsdam.  She has a 2 year old girl and her husband is currently deployed to Iraq.

Maintenance Supervisor
Mr. John Cronk
Mr. Cronk has been in our Maintenance Department since 1989.  He oversees the care and operation of all buildings and grounds for the Parish and School.  John has two children currently attending St. James.  The other two , middle school age, are graduates of St. James and volunteer their time at all our events.  The entire family is very dedicated to the success of St. James School.

First Grade
Ms. Cassandra Streit
Ms. Streit is a graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Canton.  She is completing her fifth year at St. James.  Ms Streit received her Bachelors in Childhood Education and a Masters degree as a Literacy Specialist from SUNY Potsdam

Custodian -
Mr. Randy Abar
Mr. Abar will be completing his seventh year.  He assists with school and parish maintenance.  Mrs. Abar’s three children attend
St. James and enjoy seeing their Dad walking the halls.

Second Grade -
Mrs. Maureen Cloonan
Mrs. Cloonan is a graduate of St. James School, Gouverneur High School, Mater Dei College and SUNY Potsdam.  She has two daughters, both graduates of St. James School.  One a first grade teacher in Florida and the other is a brand new M.D. is completing her surgery residency in Massachusetts. Her second grade currently has a class band complete with drums, piano and cymbals.  They do an extensive unit on dinosaurs each year that the children really look forward to.

Library
Mr. Joseph Laurenza
Mr. Laurenza, “Library Joe” is a retired BOCES Principal who volunteers as our school Librarian.  He also coordinates several fundraising school projects and community activities.  He is director of the Gouverneur Museum.  Mr. Laurenza is a super asset to our school.   He is our #1 volunteer.  We all should have a “Library Joe” working with us.

Third Grade
Mrs. Kelly Sternisha
Mrs. Sternisha has been the third grade teacher at St. James School since 1987.  She received her degree in education from SUNY Plattsburgh with a concentration in mathematics. She is a trained school mentor who can offer guidance to new teachers when they join our teaching staff. Her classroom is always very busy, complete with learning centers and guided reading groups.  Students study different countries around the world and experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony complete with first hand knowledge of the country after Mrs. Sternisha’s visit to Japan.

Music Director
Mrs. Beth Johnson
Director of Music for St. James School and Parish, completing her ninth year teaching at St. James School, she has also served our Parish and school music ministry since 1970.  Mrs. Johnson was recently inducted into the
Three M’s Music Honor Society

Fourth Grade
Miss Susan Lillie
Miss Susan Lillie has been teaching at St. James for thirty-seven years.  She started in grade 4, and after 2 years she moved to grade 5.  Now after 34 years in grade 5, Miss Lillie recycled herself to 4th grade again.  She teaches religion for grades 3, 4, and 5 and enjoys sharing her faith with the children.  She is also the HCA mission representative for the school.  Miss Lillie is looking for new adventures with her class and has many plans for different learning experiences and field trips.

Art
Miss Corey Rogers
Miss Corey Rogers is our new Art Teacher and Pre-Kindergarten Teaching Assistant at St. James School.  Miss Rogers received her Bachelors of Science degree in English and Psychology from Elmira College.  Miss Rogers has been working in the Gouverneur Central School District since 2001.  Miss Rogers loves to teach and work with children.  Her hobbies include hiking, kayaking, horseback riding and singing.  Miss Rogers is very excited about working at St. James School and being part of the team!

Fifth Grade
Miss Robinson
Miss Robinson grew up on a small family farm in LaFargeville. Miss Robinson graduated from LaFargeville Central School in 2004, and then went on to get her Bachelors at SUNY Potsdam and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Elementary Education. She then got her masters in Literacy Education the following year. This will be her first year at St. James Catholic School.

She looks forward to working at this school, and getting to know the students and the parents. Miss Robinson has a great love for children and has wanted to be a teacher since she was a young girl.  She is attaining here dream here at St. James.

Physical Education
Mrs. Connie Hartle
Mrs. Hartle is completing her fourteenth year as our physical education instructor.  She provides wonderful activities for our students and is always looking for new ideas that she can add to her program.

Sixth Grade
Mrs. Kassie Hinrichs
Mrs. Hinrichs is beginning her eighth year
at St. James School.  She received her Bachelors in Elementary Education and Speech Communications and earned her Masters degree in Reading from SUNY Potsdam.  Mrs. Hinrichs received an Associates degree in Business Administration.

Mrs. Hinrichs has lived in Germany, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana and Connecticut before arriving at Fort Drum, New York with LTC John Hinrichs and their two children, Jennifer and Joshua.

Experience the diverse cultures as Mrs. Hinrichs travels back in time to India, China, Greece, Rome and the Renaissance Period.

Title I
Mrs. Waltraud Evans
Mrs. Evans, a native of Germany, is our Title I aide who provides extra assistance to our students in our math and reading computer lab.  She holds  degrees in early childhood education and social
work. 

Mrs. Evans has been an instructor for twelve years.  Her Grandson is a student here at St. James School. 

She volunteers her time to assist with many school activities, such as coordinating our yearbook.  She’s our unofficial “school photographer”.  Say “cheese”!