A nationally known speaker who spent five years in prison for bank robberies will speak about heroin addiction this Thursday at Middleburgh Central School.
Andrew James McKenna will meet with Middleburgh students during the school day and present an open session at 6pm in the high school gym.
The evening session is free and open to the public.
Mr. McKenna’s visit comes after two Middleburgh alumni died after opioid use earlier this year.
Mr. McKenna was a Marine Corps captain, Judge Advocate General attorney and Justice Department prosecutor before becoming addicted to heroin.
He was later convicted for robbing six banks. While serving 65 months in prison, Mr. McKenna wrote his memoir, “Sheer Madness: From Federal Prosecutor to Federal Prisoner.”
Although Middleburgh lost two alumni, the heroin problem is widespread, touching much of rural New York, MCS Superintendent Michele Weaver said.
“We’re all in this together,” she added. “It’s a serious, serious issue, but it’s taboo to talk about it. It could be students, parents, someone you know.”
Mr. McKenna is an effective speaker, Ms. Weaver said, because he’s not people’s idea of a typical heroin addict.
“He was a professional who was on top of the world,” she said.
The MCS Roundtable, a parent-teacher organization for the middle and high school, arranged Mr. McKenna’s talks.
Roundtable President Raelyn Mercer said she sought Mr. McKenna after family members of one of the deceased pleaded to her, “Please do something to help other kids.”
“It was a long stretch to bring Mr. McKenna to a small Schoharie County school,” Ms. Mercer said.
“But if we touch one more child, it’s worth every ounce of work I do.”
While Mr. McKenna’s visit was intended for Middleburgh, Ms. Weaver has invited neighboring school districts and county officials to attend.
Ms. Weaver hopes Mr. McKenna’s talk will encourage more open communication about heroin and addiction.
“It’s sort of, ‘If you see something, say something,’ ” she said.
Ms. Weaver is planning follow-up activities with the Schoharie County Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, which already works with all county schools and students.
“We do have a lot of resources to access,” Ms. Weaver said, “but we have to work together.”
Ms. Mercer agreed, adding that she’s planning workshops for the first day of school in September. She also expects more community outreach.
“We need to educate the community,” Ms. Mercer said. “It’s not just kids.”