Director of Student Support - Central Office

POSITION OVERVIEW: Director of Student Support - Central Office

PPS seeks a dynamic leader to serve as Director of Student Support to lead the development and implementation of strategies focused on the mental, behavioral, and physical health of students. The Director will work alongside district and school-based team members in implementing our new five year strategic plan. This is a hands-on position that requires strategic leadership, a deep understanding of issues and strategies related to student wellness and mental and behavioral health, and a strong interest in supporting adults as they work to address student needs. This person is a systems thinker who also has outstanding organizational skills and the ability to move key initiatives forward, while building strong and trusting relationships with colleagues, families, and community partners. The ideal candidate is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with significant school-based experience.
Under the supervision of the Senior Director of Special Education, the Director of Student Support leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive district-wide mental and behavioral health strategy. This strategy will establish common district-wide goals, expectations, and multi-tiered approaches for promoting the well-being of all students, while ensuring that students in need of additional support are identified and appropriately served. The Director will also draw on their professional training and experience in school settings in providing guidance and support to mental health professionals (including social workers, counselors, and contracted clinicians) and consultation to district and school leaders. The Director will also provide support and guidance to the staff working in PPS health suites and help develop a holistic approach to student health and well-being, which will ultimately be incorporated into PPS’ vision for community schools. Over the course of the 2025-26 school year, the Director will assume oversight of the district’s McKinney Vento liaison and their work with unhoused students and families.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
+ Strategic Leadership

• In close consultation with district and school leaders and other key stakeholders, leads the development of a comprehensive mental and behavioral health strategy that lays out clear, measurable goals and action steps that will lead to the provision of high-quality services at all levels
• Collaborates with district and school colleagues to ensure that mental health, physical health, and other student support services are integrated into a districtwide Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS): Tier 1 (universal/all students), Tier 2 (targeted interventions for students that require increased intensity and frequency of support), and Tier 3 (intensive support for students that require further increases in intensity and frequency of support). This includes articulating the connections between the district’s student support work and efforts to advance social emotional learning, restorative practices, Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), and other initiatives related to student well-being and school culture and climate
• Builds understanding of and support for the district’s mental and behavioral health strategy and other student support efforts through on-going communications, professional learning opportunities, and direct engagement with people at the district and school levels
• Monitors the implementation and impact of student support work, continuously analyzing relevant data (including disaggregated student data) and adjusting practices, as necessary, to best meet student needs and ensure consistency in the quality of services across the district
• Collaborates with colleagues across the district (e.g., nurses, mental health professionals, health and physical education teachers, food services, family engagement specialists, etc.) to develop an integrated action plan for implementing PPS’ wellness policy
• Creates and continuously updates a directory of student and family support resources both inside and outside the district; ensures that this information is accessible to all who may need it at the district and school levels
• Works in close collaboration with the district’s Communications team and district and school leaders to develop both proactive and responsive communications for students, staff, families, and/or community members on issues related to physical health, mental health, and other aspects of student support

+ Fiscal and Operational Leadership

• Contributes to the development of the district’s annual budget in alignment with strategic and operational priorities, and manages funds allocated to the Student Support Office
• Collaborates with the Senior Director of Special Education and other team members to design and implement a system for incorporating MaineCare billing into the work of the district’s mental health professionals, where appropriate
• Identifies and applies for external sources of funding when appropriate, in close consultation with district leaders and finance colleagues

+ Team Development and Supervision

• Works in close collaboration with the Human Resources team and other colleagues to develop a strong pipeline of mental health and health practitioners for PPS schools through active recruiting, partnerships, internships, and apprenticeships
• Supports schools in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of mental health, health, and other student support professionals
• Provides technical guidance and consultation for Human Resources and school leaders on issues related to certification requirements and evaluation of mental health and health professionals
• Coordinates high-quality professional learning opportunities related to mental health, health, and other topics that will bolster the capacity of school- and district-based personnel to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive support to students, in alignment with professional standards, ethics, and best practices
• Coordinates case consultation opportunities for mental health professionals and establishes appropriate systems and resources for the provision of clinical supervision, where appropriate; if the Director is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, they may supervise a limited number of mental health professionals to support their credentialing process
• Supports mental health professionals in developing a system by which to maintain appropriate documentation and written reports and communications
• Coordinates regular meetings and communications to student support team members and ensures that information and technical support resources are well-organized and accessible via the Staff Hub
• Directly supervises Student Support team members (this will include the stipend nursing coordinator position and, beginning in 2026-27, the McKinney Vento liaison)

+ Technical Leadership and Consultation

• Establishes and manages a system for identifying and prioritizing clinical support needs at schools, identifying organizations/clinicians to address those needs, vetting potential organizations/clinicians, ensuring that appropriate agreements are in place to manage the work of external clinicians in PPS schools, matching organizations/clinicians to schools, and monitoring their work
• Establishes referral systems to services in school, as well as consistent pre- and post-test evaluations, to ensure all students are receiving quality and consistent service
• Serves as the official Foster Care Liaison to the State of Maine, attends required training, and ensures appropriate systems are in place to support students and manage compliance and reporting
• Serves as a thought partner to district and school leaders on issues related to student support, including providing professional and clinical guidance and support in response to challenging cases, student crises, or school emergencies
• Supports Assistant Superintendents and school leaders in carrying out and documenting threat assessments; tracks threat assessments and manages required State reporting
• Serves on the district’s Safety Committee, contributing to the development and implementation of emergency management plans and related training and drills
• Collaborates with other departments and schools to ensure that clear guidance is in place for mandated reporting of concerns related to child abuse and neglect, that required annual training is developed and being implemented, and that schools/mandated reporters receive the support they need to navigate the reporting process and follow-up
• Coordinates required Suicide Prevention Awareness training across the district as dictated by Maine Law LD 609
• Coordinates with other departments in the development and delivery of professional learning related to child development, de-escalation strategies, and positive behavioral support for students

+ Partnerships and Contracts Management

• Develops and maintains strong partnerships with State and local agencies, organizations, networks, and school districts to bolster PPS’ student support work, learn about and share best practices, and identify opportunities for collaboration
• Ensures that Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or contracts are established and kept up-to-date for all partners working in Portland Public Schools and/or where resources (financial, personnel, etc.) are being committed by PPS and/or the partner organization

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Strategic vision and critical thinking skills.
• Systems-thinker with the capacity to hold the big picture while managing the small details that ensure strong implementation.
• Demonstrated project planning and management skills.
• Demonstrated team leadership skills.
• Outstanding relationship-building capacity.
• Track record of working collaboratively with staff at all levels to build consensus while also delivering exceptional results.
• Experience working in diverse settings, a commitment to building and acting on self, interpersonal, and cultural awareness.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices in school-based social work, social emotional learning, and behavioral interventions (e.g., positive behavioral interventions and supports). Working knowledge of the pertinent standards and regulations in Maine programs, low-income and culturally diverse populations, and trauma-informed practices.
• Strong clinical assessment skills (e.g., threat assessment, mental health diagnostic assessments, mental status etc.) and crisis planning.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, proficient computer skills, and time-management.
• Experience and skill providing clinical supervision preferred.
• Skilled designer and facilitator of professional learning for adults.
• Expertise in data-based inquiry to ensure improvement in professional practice and experience using data to drive critical conversations and continuous improvement among peer and non-peer colleagues and groups

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in the education, mental health, health and/or related sectors, with at least 5 years of experience in school (pre-K to 12) settings
• Masters Degree in a related field required (e.g., Social Work, Counseling, Education)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) strongly preferred, with a valid license with the Maine State Board of Social Work Examiners (or ability to obtain one within the first year of employment)

• Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization (more info)
• [Strongly preferred] A valid license issued by the Maine State Board of Social Work Examiners (or ability to obtain one within the first year of employment)

• Year-round position
• Permanent
• Full Time, 1.0 FTE
• Non-represented
• Reports to: Senior Director of Special Education
• Direct Reports: Nurse Coordinator (stipended role); McKinney Vento liaison (beginning in 2026-27)
• Salary Range: $115,000-130,000

ABOUT PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
The Portland Public Schools (PPS) serves approximately 6,500 students in 17 schools in grades pre-K through 12, about one-third of whom come from homes where a language other than English is spoken – for a total of more than 50 languages. The District serves an additional 2,000 students through Portland Adult Education. As the largest and most diverse school system in Maine, the mission of Portland Public Schools is to ensure a challenging, relevant, and joyful education that empowers every learner to make a difference in the world.

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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.