Sarah O'Donnell

Professional Biography

My passion for working with children started when I was very young as I played with my cousins and babysat the neighborhood kids; however, in 2007, I started serving weekly in the Shining Stars (special needs) classroom at Calvary of Los Gatos. There I learn what it means to connect with a child, where they are at, and how to support the ministry of each individual family. I continued to serve, even when jumping to Hillside Church, where I became a 2’s/3’s and 2nd/3rd Grade Sunday School teacher. In May 2016, I graduated from SJSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development. Immediately, I was hired at Hillside Church as the Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry. Over the course of my six years there, I became the Director of Women’s & Children’s Ministry. At Hillside, I oversaw a virtual VBS, Family Nights, Park Days, and an on-campus ministry called Kids Club with 1st-5th Graders. In 2023, with God paving the way before me, I started here at SJCS.

Personal Biography

I was blessed to be born into a Christian home where my faith grew from an early age. I was raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains and graduated from Los Gatos High School. Over the course of my life, I have spent many occasions loving on, teaching, and serving the kids in my community. I have also had the amazing privilege of going to Little Flock Children’s Home, an orphanage in India, twice. The first trip emphasized “Growing in God’s Word” and building a playground for the children, while the second trip focused on teaching in the new school built on the property and doing an evening VBS for the children. In my spare time, I enjoy going on hikes, being near the ocean, serving in my church, and of course, sipping on some freshly-made cold brew coffee!

Christian Philosophy of Education

As a Christian educator, I believe it is most important for each child to know they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), created for good works (Ephesians 2:10), and that they are loved by God unconditionally (1 John 3:1 & John 3:16). I bring this philosophy to my teaching through daily interactions created inside the classroom and out on the playground, the stories read and presented during circle time, and the safety we provide for each child to explore, ask questions, and to be a kid. Additionally, it is important for me to pull the parents/guardians into the learning and development of their child. It takes a village to train up children, so with the staff at SJCS, I hope to connect, share, struggle, and encourage parents along the way!