Meet the Team
Our Dedicated Team
At Sunnyside Roadshow, we blend play with purpose. Research has proven that emotional and social skills are the building blocks of academic achievement. Our morning announcements feel like fun but deliver serious results.
Our team combines expertise in education, child development, and creative storytelling to bring 10 core social-emotional competencies into your daily routine. With our thoughtfully crafted, one-page teacher guides, educators can easily use Sunnyside to create teachable moments throughout the day—we've handled the curriculum work so they can focus on teaching.
/ Cofounder, President & CEO /
Gerard Hardick
Gerard Hardick has been an elementary school educator for 28 years, and has worked with kids in many capacities for over 30.
As a coach, summer program developer, drama and dance program facilitator, Gerard has seen firsthand the importance of connection that children make when at play. Using puppets since remote learning became a necessity, Gerard saw the power of that connection and has utilized hilarious, compassionate, engaging characters to educate and celebrate kids all over the country.
Sunnyside Roadshow is the culmination of what happens when you see the change in a child's heart, as they witness fictional characters becoming real, and speaking directly to them. Gerard lives, teaches, and performs in Clarence Center, NY.
/ Cofounder, Treasurer & Secretary /
Joan Petrella
Joan Petrella brings decades of entrepreneurial experience and a heart for service to her role as Treasurer/Secretary at Sunnyside Roadshow. Spanning 25+ years of entrepreneurship, she has successfully owned and operated several businesses, including a multi-location food chain, specialty retail store, and non-medical home care.
Her experience, leadership, and deep sense of responsibility make her an invaluable asset to Sunnyside Roadshow. She ensures the behind-the-scenes operations run smoothly, allowing the creative and educational mission to thrive.
As a busy mother herself, Joan understands firsthand how vital foundational emotional and social learning is for children and loves to see their faces light up watching the Sunnyside Crew.
/ Psychology Advisor /
Catherine Cook-Cottone,
Ph.D., C-IAYT
Dr. Cook-Cottone is a Licensed Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist, Certified Yoga Therapist and Equine Therapist. She is a full professor in the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology at the University at Buffalo, SUNY.
Dr. Cook-Cottone researches embodied self-regulation (e.g., yoga and other embodied practices) and psychosocial disorders (e.g., trauma-related disorders and eating disorders). Aligned with her research, she teaches classes in counseling with children and adolescents, advanced counseling techniques, psychopathology, mindfulness interventions, eating disorders, and self-care and service. All while maintaining private practice working with adults, adolescents, and children, she specializes in the treatment of: anxiety-based disorders (e.g., PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder), eating disorders (including other disorders of self-care), and development of emotional regulation skills. Catherine has written ten books and over 100 peer reviewed articles and book chapters.
She also, and perhaps most importantly, joyfully and courageously, embodies being a wife, mother of two incredible young women, an equestrian, and lover of all animals big and small. She is the perfect choice to advise our crew!
/ Sr. Manager: Curriculum /
Sharon Andrews Szeglowski
Sharon has been an educator for 33 years. Her love of curriculum, administration and research data have led her to take on many roles in education: Classroom teacher, Department Chair, School Board Member for ten years, School Board President.
In addition, Sharon is a published author in Educational Curriculum and has presented at local and state conferences including being a member of the New York State Commissioner of Education's Advisory Panel on Civic Education. In addition, Sharon has served as an Educational Consultant to many school districts.
Sharon has experienced the powerful engagement, connections and learning that happen through puppetry. This method of instruction and modeling is uniquely child centered and therefore has significant deep and meaningful results. As such, she is thrilled to be the Educational Consultant for Sunnyside Roadshow Productions.
/ Cofounder, Non-Executive Director /
Rachael Lynn
Rachael brings a rich background in Human Resources, Online Business Management, and Community Building, having spent the early part of her career supporting authors and digital creators. While living in Dubai, she published her first book and led a series of conversation-rich events for expat women—building a solopreneur brand rooted in authentic connection and storytelling.
Her writing has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Vogue Arabia, and other publications, where her voice has resonated with global audiences.
With Sunnyside Roadshow, Rachael channels her expertise in digital products and online community engagement to help grow a joyful, values-driven platform that inspires families and schools alike. Now back in the U.S. and raising a toddler, she's especially delighted to contribute to a project her own child can grow up enjoying—one 5-minute morning announcement at a time.
/ Digital Marketing & Information Technology /
Scott Szeglowski
Scott brings three decades of corporate world expertise to Sunnyside that has taken him from major league sports franchises across the NFL, NHL, and MLB to Wembley Stadium and Melbourne’s The ‘G, casino and resort operations, major paper and electronics companies, National Parks, Disney, and even NASA—a personal career highlight.
Throughout his professional journey, Scott has been surrounded by educators. His parents were teachers, his wife and in-laws are teachers, and one of his children followed the same calling. So when the opportunity to join Sunnyside arose, it felt like destiny—a perfect blend of his marketing background with his deep appreciation for education.
While Scott handles traditional marketing and IT operational responsibilities, he's embraced every aspect of the Sunnyside experience. You might find him building sets, troubleshooting technical challenges, or even making brief cameos alongside the cameras operating the clapperboard - "Mark!"
For Scott, Sunnyside represents the perfect convergence of professional expertise and personal passion—using his marketing skills to help bring joy and learning to students everywhere.