Social Worker
Sophie Payson works with students in all grades with last names A-J. She can be reached at paysos@portlandschools.org or 207-653-3034. Ms. Payson uses she/her pronouns.
Boston College, 1990 Major in Sociology, Minor in US History
University of Maine, Orono, MSW, School of Social Work
Certificate in Trauma-Informed Care, Suicide Prevention, and Motivational Interviewing
I first started working at PHS in the Alternative Education Program from 2004-2011. I was then asked to work with all students by last name. Most commonly I am supporting students with anxiety, substance use, and a history of trauma. My work is centered on helping students work through social emotional and mental health issues that are getting in the way of their academic success or daily functioning. Every day and with every encounter I have, I am reminded of how very lucky I am to be part of the Portland High School Community and have the trust and support of the students, families, and staff. I love my job and am truly thankful for the opportunity to do this work.
Outside of work, I can be found in my kitchen cooking, in the woods running and hiking, or at the beach with a good book.
Social Worker
University of Southern Maine, 1999 Major in Social Work
University of Southern Maine, 2006, MSW School of Social Work
Certified in Trauma Informed Care, Suicide Prevention & Awareness, Title IX building team member, and use of Motivational Interviewing
Social Worker
Ms. Hernández can be reached at hernap@portlandschools.org or 207-653-0965.
Hello! My name is Paula Hernández (she/her), and I am from a mix of Vermont, New York City, and Chile. I spent most of my childhood living in Vermont, but my dad is from NYC and my mom is from Chile. Because of their roots, I spent a lot of my summers and school breaks in these places visiting family. Last spring I graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Masters in Social Work. This is my first year as an official employee at Portland High School, but I was also a social work intern for the 2019-2020 school year. As a bicultural and bilingual person, I am so excited to be working at one of the most diverse schools in Maine. There is so much to learn from this incredible community of intelligent, thoughtful, and passionate students! In addition to the already existing barriers in our society, COVID has made it even more difficult for many students to feel motivated and connected at school. My role here at PHS is to support all Latinx students as well as any students who are struggling to feel engaged and are at risk of failing or dropping out. We are all interconnected. If not everyone is thriving, then we cannot succeed as a school community!
Mental Health Clinician, Breathe Program
Ms. Dzitko can be reached at dzitka@portlandschools.org.
Hello! My name is Amber Dzitko (she/her). I grew up in NJ and have been living on the West coast for the past 10 years. I have recently moved back to be closer to family and friends. I graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a Master in Mental Health Counseling and Substance Abuse Counseling. My philosophy is to help children and their families through the context of relationships. I believe that by strengthening the connection in our relationships we are able to improve skills to help enhance our ability to process life. Every day we are impacted by the people around us and our ability to connect to them. Through these connections an individual is able to explore who they are and what matters to them. It is through this exploration that we are able to clarify our own values and identity. I use an attachment focused therapy process that integrates trauma informed care with grief/loss models. Attachment allows us to explore the relationships that we have in life and how we are connected to them. By integrating trauma informed care we can process the significant life events that have impacted our connections and process the grief/loss we encounter when relationships change.
Social Work Intern
Social Work Intern
Lesley University: Clinical Mental Health
Specializes in expressive art therapy and holistic therapies
Tues-Fri 9:30-2:30 in the School Counseling Office
Social Work Intern