SHS psychologist reflects back on winning the award last March

By Mackenzie Taylor, STAFF WRITER

Last March, Sanford High School’s Rebecca Labersmith was awarded the Maine Public School’s Psychologist of the Year. Labersmith has been a school psychologist for 30 years, 21 of which have been at SHS.

“I found out I was nominated in January, but didn’t find out I’d won the 2023 award until the ceremony, which was on the last day of March,” said Labersmith. “That’s why I was so shocked to see my husband walk out with the award…he knew, but I didn’t!”

Each year, the Maine Association of School Psychologists names one person practicing within the state of Maine as the School Psychologist of the Year. Labersmith was nominated by Jessica Folsom, her intern. 

Trey Pariseau, a special education teacher at the high school,  wrote “an incredibly generous letter on my behalf,” Labersmith said. 

In Pariseau’s letter, he wrote in his closing statement that it has been his “privilege to know this brilliant, gifted, kind, and compassionate human being,” noting how “Our school, students, faculty and Sanford community have been so fortunate to have Ms. Labersmith among us.” 

Labersmith said she never thought she would care so much about awards but her late father was a school principal and she knows this would have been very important to him.

Now in the new school year, Labersmith said the award hasn’t added any additional pressure to the job, other than the fact that she has to present the award for 2024.

Labersmith says the best part of her job is helping students with the things that matter to them. The worst part is the paperwork.

“I would like students to know that, in addition to providing psychological assessments for the high school, I’m here as a resource for them,” Labersmith said. “If they have questions about their learning style, how to make the most of their strengths or improve their weaknesses, get along better with others, increase their self-esteem, anything at all – my door is always open.”

There is a national shortage of school psychologists, which means there are plenty of job opportunities in Maine and across the country.

“It’s a wonderful career that I have absolutely loved for most of my adult life,” Labersmith said. “If any student is interested in psychology and wants to know which jobs could be a good fit for them, come see me and I’ll share what I know!”