POSITION OVERVIEW: School Counselor, Fall Semester Only - Deering High, 25-26 SY
Deering High School seeks a full-time School Counselor to join our team for the Fall Semester of the 2025-2026 school year. The School Counselor’s role is that of a student advocate, helping students achieve academic, personal/social and career successes. The School Counselor works under the supervision of the School Administration and assists in planning and implementing the developmental guidance and counseling programs in relation to the needs of students being served.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and deliver the school counseling curriculum in a classroom setting.
- Assist students in the areas of academic and career planning and in personal/social development.
- Provide individual and small group counseling in a variety of settings.
- Consult and collaborate with teachers, staff and parents in understanding and meeting the needs of students in the school setting.
- Make appropriate referrals of students and parents to outside agencies and specialists. Participate in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school.
- Plan, evaluate and revise the school counseling program.
- Pursue continuous professional growth to stay abreast of the field.
- Promote an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures.
- Monitor and advise students and their parents as to progress toward promotion/graduation.
- Prepare students for the transition to the next level of high school and post high school activities.
- Provide individual planning sessions to students in the areas of academic planning and success, career awareness and social/emotional development in accordance with planned objectives for grade level.
- Conduct structured goal-oriented counseling sessions in systematic response to identified needs of groups of children.
- Assist in the transition from middle school to high school and to post-secondary high school options.
- Interpret tests, student data, and other assessment results appropriately in the counseling environment.
- Provide individual counseling in response to student requests.
- Design, deliver, evaluate and revise a planned sequential and developmentally appropriate school counseling curriculum to include lessons in academic success, career awareness and planning and personal/social growth and understanding.
- Provide information and skills to parents, school staff, administration and the community to assist them in helping students in academic, career and social development.
- Assist parents in addressing school related problems and issues. Refer students and their parents, as needed, to appropriate specialists, special programs and/or outside agencies.
- Promote the liaison and coordination of school activities and resources and communicate between and among home, school, community agencies and business and industry.
- Perform other related duties as required and/or assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Adhere to the ethical standards of state and national school counselor associations
- Adhere to preferred practices prescribed by state and national school counselor associations
- Demonstrate knowledge of state and federal laws pertaining to school counseling
- Demonstrate personal growth and professional development.
- Ability to cooperate with staff, parents/guardians, administration and community resource people
- Demonstrate effective communication skills
- Ability to develop rapport with students and parents
- Ability to analyze or offer problem-solving techniques
- Skill to have patience
- Ability and skill to empathize and understand students’ concerns
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Hold a master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university
- At least three to five years of related work experience
- Combinations of applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform effectively in the position, will determine salary
CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization (more info)
- Maine State Certificate with 075 Endorsement (Guidance Counselor, PK-12) (more info)
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Required to attend school meetings, programs and activities outside the instructional day as needed
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:
- School-year position, approximate end date mid-January
- Full Time, 1.0 FTE
- Fall Semester Only
- Salaried position, not eligible for overtime
- Covered under the PEA contract (see 2022-2025 CBA here: contract currently under negotiation as of May 2025)
- Salary based on education and experience, as outlined in CBA
- Eligible for benefits as outlined here (may not be updated with 25-26 plan information or $ amounts)
ABOUT DEERING:
We are a comprehensive public high school serving about 900 students. As one of the most diverse schools in Maine, we are committed to disrupting inequities in our community by creating a joyful place of learning designed to ensure that every student succeeds.
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Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.