September 18, 2024 at 2:10 p.m.
SAFETY FIRST!
Marielena Hauser has had a long and distinguished career in education.
Hauser was principal of Catskill High School in 2018 before retiring. Prior to her retirement, she was principal for Discipline and Behavior Management for grades 6-12, principal of the Middle School, director of Physical Education and Health (K-12) and assistant principal of the Middle School, all in Catskill.
In retirement and after her grown children and grandchildren moved away, “I got bored,” she said. She started looking for jobs, applied for an assistant principal job at Saratoga Central Catholic School, and with her credentials, was directed to St. Mary’s Academy (formerly St. Mary’s-St. Alphonsus School) in Glens Falls.
“They needed a principal here and they called me back and asked me to meet up with Father Scott (VanDerveer) and the rest is history,” Hauser said.
The energy and enthusiasm that Father VanDerveer, pastor at St. Mary’s in Glens Falls, and Hauser bring should catapult the growing school to even greater heights.
“Father Scott is amazing. He is the reason that everyone is so successful here,” Hauser said. “Even in my short couple of weeks working here, I can see the influence and the energy he has on everyone.”
Father VanDerveer was equally excited about Hauser joining the school as principal.
“Mrs. Hauser is one of the most spirit-filled and enthusiastic educators I have ever met,” Father VanDerveer said at the time of her hiring. “Her infectious optimism and joy are the perfect match for our growing school. I am thrilled to partner with her as we usher in a wonderful new era at St. Mary’s.”
Even though Hauser spent three decades in public education, she “grew up in a very Catholic setting in the Bronx. I walked to my Catholic school, K-through-12. Brought up my children Catholic; baptized, communion, confirmation.”
Hauser, who holds a bachelor’s in physical education from Springfield, a master’s in curriculum development and technology from SUNY Albany, and a school administrator’s certificate from New York state, has a passion for keeping the kids safe as well. She was a New York state EMT, volunteered on a local ambulance in Windham and still is a national ski patroller.
“I focus on safety first. Once I make sure that everyone is safe in the school, my job is to help ensure effective teaching for the teachers in a safe, energetic, fun environment,” she said, “because we want to make learning fun for our children while collaborating with God and keeping Catholic education alive.
“And just keeping everyone aware that this is the day and time that we live in and most importantly making sure that our students feel they are home when they are here and they are safe.”
Hauser has already met with the fire marshal and the police department has toured the school ensuring a collaborative relationship. As for the school itself, she doesn’t plan on changing much her first year but would like to expand the phys-ed department. She has her own motto for education — ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’ and the first letters of each word spell ‘TEAM’ — but she added, “I promised Father Scott that the mission here ‘Powerful Minds, Prayerful Hearts and Helping Hands’ is going to be my motto all year.”
And what would she tell prospective families?
“If I wanted my own granddaughter to come here, the No. 1 reason is Father Scott and his energy,” Hauser said. “The teachers are amazing with the small class sizes. Going to Mass, starting the day off with prayer, prayer in the classrooms. We are expanding our sports program. It is just really quite an amazing setting for a private Catholic school.”
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