BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

MASSENA -- The Massena Central Board of Education voted to create a teacher assistant position for junior high technology classes, an area where the superintendent says teachers are tough to find.

Superintendent Pat Brady explained the proposal to the Board of Education during their Thursday, Nov. 19 meeting.

Brady said the teacher assistant would work under a high school technology teacher while working toward full teacher certification.

They would work together ... continue to teach classes until he can become certified," the superintendent told the board. "These are the types of actions we have to take in the midst of a teacher shortage."

"There are certain certifications that are very difficult to attract to any school district in New York state ... that would be secondary special education, technology, family and consumer science, Brady said.

He said the person they have in mind for the role is certified as an elementary substitute teacher and is "interested in technology. He has a passion for that. He wants to work toward his technology degree."

The teacher vacancy was the result of a recent retirement, Brady said.

Filling the spot with a teacher assistant will save a little money while the person holds that title. Brady said will not add any extra to their budget when the TA gets certified, since the teacher position he would fill is already in the budget.