Meet the Team
Principal
In 2025, we welcomed Mrs. Campanaro as our school principal. She previously served as our School Counselor from March 2021 to 2024 and has dedicated her career to working closely with children. Mrs. Campanaro earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Alfred University in 2017. A lifelong member of the Gouverneur community and a parishioner of St. James Parish, Mrs. Campanaro resides locally with her husband and three children, two of whom attend St. James School.
Vice Principal - First/Second Grade
Mrs. Bercier began teaching at St. James in 2019 and currently leads the combined first and second grade multiage classroom. She brings several years of primary-level teaching experience and also serves as our Vice Principal and trained mentor for new teachers. A parishioner of St. James Church, she resides in Richville with her husband.
Preschool
Mrs. Blair, a St. James School alumna, graduated from Gouverneur High School in 2008 and pursued studies in Early Childhood Education at Southwest Tech. She is pleased to continue her St. James connection as both an educator and parent, with her youngest son currently enrolled at the school.
PreK
Mrs. Wake recently moved to Gouverneur from Harrisville, NY. She holds a Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Education from St. Lawrence University. A St. James parent since 2018, she previously served as our Family Support Coordinator. Mrs. Wake and her husband, Ben, have five children and enjoy attending Mass together, camping, hiking, and family game nights.
Kindergarten
Mrs. Ferrick is a lifelong member of our community and faith family. Her three children attended St. James School, and she has served in several roles over the years, including preschool teacher, substitute teacher, and PreK aide. Since 2023, she has been our kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Ferrick enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandson, as well as boating in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter.
Third/Fourth Grade
Mrs. Sochia resides in Gouverneur with her family and joined the St. James community in 2022. She is excited to teach the combined third and fourth grade classroom. Mrs. Sochia earned her degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Oswego, where she was a member of the Synchronized Skating Team. In the fall, she coaches the Gouverneur Girls Modified Soccer Team and enjoys attending her children’s sports events. She also loves spending time in the Adirondacks or relaxing with a book on her back porch.
Fifth/Sixth Grade
Mrs. Moss has been a longtime resident of Gouverneur. She earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Empire and recently completed her master’s in education from Grand Canyon University in March 2025. She is currently pursuing her teacher certification and is passionate about continually growing as an educator to serve students in our community. When she is not teaching, Mrs. Moss enjoys cooking, spending time with her three children, and camping. One of her children currently attends St. James School.
Religion Teacher
Mrs. Leader is a parishioner of St. James Church and lives in Gouverneur with her husband, Deacon Henry. She earned a Bachelor of Science in K–12 Health Education from Southern Connecticut State University and a Master’s in Elementary Education from SUNY Potsdam. After teaching in the Indian River School District, she spent twenty years as a stay-at-home mom, volunteering at St. James School and serving in parish and diocesan ministries as a Certified Catechist. She also worked as an Associate in the Family Life Office for the Diocese of Ogdensburg and continues to serve as Director of Family Guggenheim. Now ministering at St. James as Director of Religious Education, Youth, and Family Ministries—and teaching Religion at St. James School—is her dream come true.
AIS Teacher
Mrs. Tomford began as our Academic Intervention Service teacher in 2020, providing extra support in math and ELA for students from kindergarten through sixth grade. She lives in Gouverneur, NY, and enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, and spending time with her two granddaughters.
Music Coordinator
Mrs. Johnson serves as the Director of Music for both St. James School and Parish, a role she has faithfully fulfilled since 1970. A member of the Three M’s Music Honor Society, she generously shares her musical gifts with our church, our school, and the wider community. In addition to her work in ministry, she offers private lessons and contributes her talents to various local organizations, enriching the musical life of all she serves.
Art Director
Mrs. Dale joined St. James School in 2019, bringing her creativity and passion to our art program. She shares her gifts with students across all grade levels, encouraging imagination and artistic exploration in the classroom. Mrs. Dale resides in Gouverneur with her husband.
Physical Education
Mrs. Hartle serves as St. James School’s Physical Education instructor, providing students with engaging, active, and developmentally appropriate activities that promote health, teamwork, and confidence.
Librarian
Mrs. Mullin is a retired librarian who continues to share her love of books as a volunteer school librarian at St. James. She also enjoys spending time as a nanny to several of our students, supporting their growth and learning both in and out of the classroom.
Teaching Assistant
Ms. Nikirk is the 5th and 6th grade Teaching Assistant at St. James School, where she brings dedication, kindness, and understanding to the classroom each day. She lives in Gouverneur with her three children, all of whom attend St. James School, along with a house full of well-loved pets. In addition to her work in education, she is also a talented hairdresser at Strandz Salon in Gouverneur. Ms. Nikirk enjoys supporting students as they learn, grow, and discover their unique strengths.
Administrative Director
Mrs. Gates has lived in Fowler with her family since 2014 and is originally from Hannibal, NY. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Albany and a master’s in Childhood Education from SUNY Oswego. After teaching first grade in Maryland, she joined St. James School as a second grade teacher and has now transitioned into the role of Administrative Director. Mrs. Gates has two children who currently attend St. James School.
Kitchen Manager
Mrs. Austin is the Director of St. James School Food Services. She served for several years as a parent volunteer before taking on this role in 2025. She lives in Gouverneur with her husband and three children, all of whom attend St. James School.
Maintenance Supervisor
Mr. Gates was born and raised in Gouverneur, NY. After serving in the United States Air Force and teaching middle school math in Maryland, he returned home to be closer to family. He spent two years teaching 4th and 6th grade at St. James before transitioning into his role as Maintenance Supervisor. Mr. Gates has two children who attend St. James School.
Advancement Coordinator
Mrs. LaPierre is a member of St. James Parish and a longtime supporter of the school. She and her husband have three daughters who are St. James alumni. Mrs. LaPierre currently serves as Director of Advancement, returning to the role after serving as principal from 2020 to 2022. She has taught preschool and PreK at St. James, served as principal for a total of five years, and has been an active volunteer in the parish and school throughout her life. Additionally, she has taught elementary school in both public and Catholic schools and worked as an adjunct professor at the State University of Potsdam.