Mohawk Education Committee Hosts Two "Meet the Candidates" for Salmon River School Board
May 8, 2015
Akwesasne, NY -- The Saint Regis Mohawk Education Committee, in conjunction with the St. Regis Mohawk School Parent-Teacher Organization, is pleased to announce two “Meet the Candidate” events for the upcoming Salmon River Central School Board election. An invitation is extended for school district residents and all school board candidates to attend “Meet the Candidates” events scheduled for:
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, May 12th
Salmon River Central School Auditorium
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.; Monday, May 18th
St. Regis Mohawk School Cafeteria
The Salmon River School Board Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. To vote in the school board election, individuals need to be at least 18 years old and reside in the Salmon River School District. Individuals are eligible to vote even if they do not have children attending school within the district.
All four school board candidates have been invited to attend the “Meet the Candidates” events and include; Stephen Barse, Jayne Cook, Jason McDonald and Emily Lauzon. Jason McDonald and Emily Lauzon are both seeking to be re-elected for five-year terms on the School Board.
Jason McDonald
Jason McDonald is seeking re-election on the school board for a five-year term. He learned a lot during the previous year as a board member and feels there is a lot of work left to do—capital projects and the welcoming of a new superintendent. With three children in the school system, this past years’ experience has inspired him to continue representing our community’s youth in their education.
Jason wants our children to utilize the education that is offered in our school district to develop career plans following graduation. He wants to continue helping students pursue their career goals by connecting them to educational resources at vocational and technical training centers, as well as colleges and universities.
Jason was born and raised in Akwesasne. He is the son of Edith and the late-Dave McDonald. Jason graduated from Salmon River in 1993. He formerly served as the Director of Community and Family Services for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, working with our Akwesasne community members with physical and developmental disabilities. He is currently employed as a sales associate at Adirondack Powersports in Malone, NY. Jason has been an active member of the Hogansburg-Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years, currently serving as the Department’s Treasurer.
Emily Lauzon
Emily Lauzon has fifteen years of experience as a board member for the Salmon River Central School District. She currently serves as the Board Vice-President and is seeking re-election for a five-year term. Emily believes in the importance of having Native representation on the Board of Education to ensure our children and family’s voices are part of decisions made on behalf of our district. She strongly emphasizes the importance of strengthening the relationship between the Board of Education and the Mohawk Education Committee and has worked diligently to bring more collaboration between these two entities.
Emilyis an enrolled member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and taxpayer in the town of Bombay. She is a grandmother to six grandsons whom attend or will be attending Salmon River Central School District. She has a vested interest in the education of not only her grandchildren but all children in the school district. Emily believes in creating partnerships which provides opportunities for the students, she currently sits on the FEH BOCES Board, SUNY Potsdam Foundation Board, previous member of the Perkins Advisory Board, North Country Community College Advisory Board, and Workplace Investment Board. Through her involvement with the various committees and boards Emily has been able to help students through educational opportunities such as Internships, developing scholarships for students and research ways to access grants for training. Emily has worked with the High school students in conducting mock interviews and reviewing resumes during Clarkson University’s Annual Gateways to Careers. Emily is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam and currently the Interim General Manager for the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort.
The Mohawk Education Committee is encouraging school district residents to vote in the Salmon River Central School Board Election on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from Noon to 8:00 p.m. in Salmon River’s High School Auditorium.
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Please direct media inquiries to the Communications Department at 518-358-2272.