Our Staff
Mr. Nathan Kirschen
Physical Education
Mrs. Julie Carr - SOAR Program
& Orchestra
Julie Along Carr received a Bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and a Master’s degree from the University of Kansas. She retired from the Cortland City Schools after teaching the string program for twenty-seven years and serving as the district music curriculum leader for ten years. Since her retirement she has been teaching string pedagogy, class strings and supervising the junior string teachers for Ithaca College. In the fall of 2008, she started a string program at St. Mary’s School in Cortland to serve as a lab school for the junior teaching field experience program.
Mrs. Carr is the associate conductor for the Binghamton Youth Symphony conducting the Preparatory Symphony and has served as a guest conductor for festivals across the state. She is an All-State certified adjudicator, past New York State School Music Association string chairperson, served six years as the Zone 3 representative and was the treasurer for NY- ASTA for over 20 years. As member of the NYS Academy for Teaching and Learning, she is committed to the development of music curricula and has served as a co-facilitator for the academy’s Peer Review conferences. She has had music reviews and articles published in the Instrumentalist Magazine and in the New York State School Music News.
In May 1999 Mrs. Carr received the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra Outstanding Music Educator’s Award and in May 2001 she was named the Cortland Rotary Club Outstanding Teacher of the Year. She maintains a private studio and performs with the Ovation String Quartet.
Mrs. Jennifer Fischer
Office
A Mom to 7 children, Mrs. Fischer has two SMS graduates and five current students. She received a Bachelors degree from St. Bonaventure University and is also the DRE and Youth Minister of St. Mary's Church. She joined the staff in 2018 as a secretary and loves everything about being a part of St. Mary's School family.
Ms. Eileen Shay
1st Grade
Miss Shay grew up in Cortland and attended Saint Mary’s School, kindergarten through 9th grade. She is an experienced teacher, working with students Pre-K through 2nd grade. Miss Shay began her career as a preschool teacher in Syracuse and Cortland. She moved to North Carolina for 10 years where she taught Title-1 reading, multi-aged K-1, 1-2, and 1st grade. For 17 years, Miss Shay taught first and second graders in Brighton, outside of Rochester. She returned to the area in 2022 and joined the SMS staff as an instructional coach, working with the classroom teachers. Miss Shay is loving being back in the classroom with first graders and especially back in this school that she has loved since the age of 5.
Mrs. Niggli is an SMS alum ('94) and a proud mother of 3 children, all who have attended SMS. Mrs. Niggli has been a substitute teacher in our building for a few years and recently joined us as librarian. She enjoys the outdoors including raising farm animals with her family.
Mrs. Andrea Niggli
Library
Mrs. Amber Hoyt
2nd Grade
Mrs. Hoyt has worked at St. Mary's After-School Program for five years before joining the St. Mary's team full time. She taught Pre-k for years before moving to 2nd grade. All six of her children have attended St. Mary's School as well as her husband. Mrs. Hoyt says she loves this school and everyone that makes it such a wonderful family. She truly feels blessed to be a part of the St. Mary's family.
Ms. Denise Hall
Principal
Mrs. Marisa Gobel
5th Grade
Mrs. Gobel received her B.A. in Adolescent Education of Social Studies from SUNY Cortland and received her M.S. degree in Literacy Education at SUNY Cortland. As a life-long resident of Cortland, she feels blessed to be able to work in her hometown. She is so grateful for the opportunity to work in a school that has such a solid academic foundation, with such amazing students, and wonderful faculty and staff. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and the outdoors.
Ms. Eileen Allen
Band
Mrs. Cynthia Dwyer
PreK Teaching Assistant
Cindy Dwyer has worked in the field with children for over 30 years. She has a daughter and son who both attended St. Mary's School. Their grandmother and grandfather also attended St. Mary's School. Mrs. Dwyer enjoys her family dog and cat. She also likes to sew and take long walks.
Mr. Ben Hill
Maintenance
Mrs. Jacqueline Niver
4th Grade
Ms. Molly Reagan
6th Grade
Molly Reagan is a proud alumna (‘95) and veteran teacher at S.M.S. Teaching here since 2008, she has both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from LeMoyne College. Molly is proud to have been educated in both the Fransician and Jesuit traditions and tries to infuse those philosophies into every lesson. She is a mother to Del and Sam (both St. Mary’s students), a muralist, freelance artist, Little League coach, singer and the founder of PorchFest Cortland. Her art classes are lively, process-driven and the projects are “larger-than-life.” In teaching art at St. Mary’s School, Molly has found her vocation. AMDG--
Ms. Denise Hall has been at St. Mary's since 2002. "St. Mary's is an awesome place to be because the teachings of Jesus are integrated into all aspects of School life. Children, parents and staff work together like family." Ms. Hall graduated from SUNY Cortland with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology. Her Master's Degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy is from Walden University. She studied Administration and School Building Leadership at LeMoyne College.
Mr. Robby Manners
Music
Ms. Faith Heath
Art
Mrs. Sheila Guido
3rd Grade
A veteran as a SMS faculty member, Sheila Guido joined St.Mary's in 1993. "It's rewarding to watch the children grow into bright and caring young adults." She and her husband, Jeff, are the parents of three alumni . Jeff teaches history at Cortland High School and has many of Sheila's former students in his classes. Mrs. Guido has a B.A. in English Literature and Elementary Education from SUNY Potsdam. She also has an M.S. in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Reading from SUNY Cortland. She is permanently certified in Elementary Education in New York State.
Aside from raising her kids on a dairy farm in Truxton, Ms Henry is a full time PK4 teacher. After years of being a stay at home mom and sending them off to school here at St. Mary’s, she slowly began volunteering, then became a member of Parents Guild, subbing, which turned into full time. She feels fortunate that her family is a part of the small, close knit, family oriented school St. Mary’s offers.
Mrs. Katherine Cohen
Pre-K Teacher
St. Mary's School is a proud tradition in Mrs. Cohen's family. Her father, herself, and her children have attended St. Mary's School. Mrs. Cohen received a degree in Early Childhood Education from SUNY Cobleskill. She loves working at St. Mary's because it is not just a school. It is a home and everyone in it is family.
Mrs. Samantha Augur
Office
As the parent of 4 graduates, Samantha spent many hours volunteering at our school. She has been the past President of the Parents' Guild, and has been a frequent substitute teacher. She is married to a local dairy farmer, David. She received a BS in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland in 1994. She joins us as our school secretary. "My children are doing great at the high schools they went to after attending St. Mary's."
Mrs. Rebecca Prentice
Kindergarten
Ms. Meghan Henry
PreK Teacher
Mr. Nathan Kirschen is honored and proud to be a part of such a welcoming and wonderful school community here at St. Mary’s. Nathan attended SUNY Delhi for two years and received his associate's degree in Science. He then attended SUNY Cortland to help further achieve his career goals, and fuel his passion for Physical Education. There, he received his Bachelors of Science in Education. Mr. Kirschen is dedicated to creating the best learning environment and learning experience for the bright young students at St. Mary’s Catholic school.