Longtime teacher, coach McKenna returns to MACS as Director of Pupil Services

OSWEGO COUNTY – Mexico Academy & Central School District is pleased to welcome back a familiar face as Mr. James McKenna joins the district as the new Director of Pupil Services.

He officially returned to MACS earlier this summer, bringing more than a decade of experience as an educator and school administrator. He previously spent approximately 10 years with MACS as a special education teacher and coach, working in an Integrated Co-Taught Social Studies classroom.

“Mr. McKenna brings a valuable combination of experience, knowledge and familiarity with our district to this role, and we know he will be a strong addition to our administrative team,” said MACS Superintendent Dr. Donna Runner. “We look forward to the perspective and leadership he brings as we continue working together to support the needs of our students, families and communities.”

Mr. McKenna departed MACS in 2021 to join LaFayette Central School District, where he served as Assistant Principal at the Junior/Senior High School and Director of Athletics. In 2023, he transitioned to Director of Pupil Services and Athletics, a position he held through June 30, 2026, before making his return to MACS.

“I am thankful to be back working for MACS as the Director of Pupil Services,” Mr. McKenna said. “It has been nice to reconnect with old colleagues and meet new individuals. In the five years that I was away and now returning, there has been a lot of growth within the district, which is exciting.”

In his new role, Mr. McKenna will work alongside colleagues across the district to support students and ensure their individual educational needs are met.

“I am excited to be a part of a team that puts students first,” he said. “Our team is focused on providing students a high-quality educational experience while also ensuring their individual needs are being met. I am excited to learn from my colleagues, and I look forward to the opportunities to collaborate with them.”

Mr. McKenna’s educational philosophy centers on the importance of relationships and collaboration.

“Build strong, healthy relationships with your students, their families and colleagues,” he said. “Positive collaboration is critical and essential to doing what is best for students.”

A graduate of Pittsford Mendon High School near Rochester, Mr. McKenna attended Niagara University for his undergraduate degree and master’s degree in secondary education with a focus on history. He later attended Le Moyne College to fulfill the requirements for certification in special education and earned his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from Stony Brook University in 2020.

Beyond his professional experience, Mr. McKenna is excited to return to the district and community that he and his family call home.

“I am now back working for the district that my family and I call home,” he said.