Massena Central to contract with tribe for new Mohawk education specialist

By Andy Gardner

MASSENA -- The Massena Central School District will contract with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to hire a Mohawk education specialist.

This will be to replace Robin Logan, who left the district at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. She taught a Mohawk culture course, tutored Mohawk students and was advisor to the Mohawk Club.

Superintendent Patrick Brady said they’re turning to the tribe because they contract for the same service at Salmon River Central, and Massena is having trouble finding someone to fulfill the role. It will cost the district $20,000 and the tribe picks up the rest of the cost, he told the board at their Thursday, Oct. 17 meeting.

“I think it’s a win-win,” he said.

The board later in the same meeting approved Mohawk Club advisor Anna Thompson for the 2019-2020 school year. Brady said she will work with Mohawk students in a capacity similar to the education specialist.

“It is expected that she will advise the club and at some point in the future will help acclimate the new person to the Mohawk Club advisor position,” Brady said. “With Native American Heritage month coming up in November, we are glad to bring Anna on to assist in organizing our

various cultural events.”