Health and Wellness Counselor

Many Nations Academy (MNA) is seeking a trauma informed, student and academic wellness advisor to join our team as the newest Health and Wellness Counselor! MNA is an alternative high school within NAYA Family Center, located in the Cully neighborhood of NE Portland. MNA’s educational model is culturally specific and reflects the values of Native peoples, though our students come from all backgrounds. Being a teacher at MNA is different than at other schools.  Annual enrollment is 50 to 60 students, and our teacher to student ratio is 1 to 10, giving you the chance to get to know each learner and their needs. Food, housing, and other resource needs that are barriers to learning can be addressed by NAYA staff right in the building. 

The Health and Wellness Counselor fulfills a dual role within the Many Nations Academy. The position is a combination of 50% time spent functioning as a Counselor, 25% time spent teaching Physical Education, and 25% time spent teaching Health Education. The primary goal of this position is to support students' holistic well-being, fostering lifelong healthy living.

NAYA offers an exceptional benefits package, including free medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (and affordable care for family), 401(k) retirement plan with 6% match, and paid holidays. General working hours are from 9am - 6pm. The school year spans August 20, 2025 - June 12, 2026.

Pay is starting at $50,000 annually or commensurate depending on experience.

 Who you are: 

• Ideally, you have work or lived experience in the Native community—or a strong commitment to learning Native history and understanding the strengths and challenges of Urban Native youth.
• You believe in supporting the whole student—socially, emotionally, and academically—and you build trust through consistency, compassion, and presence.
• You hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in School Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, or a closely related field.
• You connect easily with students, families, and colleagues, and you use those relationships to help students thrive.
• You understand Native American history and the diversity within the local Native community, with insight into the Urban Indian experience.
• You’re organized and dependable -- able to manage competing priorities, follow through, and adapt when plans shift.
• You’ve provided academic support, counseling, and/or mentoring and know how to walk alongside students in their journey.
• You don’t go it alone -- you collaborate with school staff and community partners to ensure students are fully supported.
• You know that being an educator means that you’ll face stressful situations. You are the sort of person who brings calmness, curiosity and flexibility to these situations.
• You are self-aware and welcome feedback as part of your professional growth.
• You’re comfortable with digital tools like Microsoft Suite (including Outlook), Google Suite, Canva, and web-based curriculum platforms.

 What You'll Do: 

50% Counseling

• Provide individual and group counseling to support students’ social-emotional well-being and growth.
• Design and implement a comprehensive school counseling program addressing academic, career, and personal development.
• Collaborate with staff, families, and community partners to address student needs and promote overall well-being. 
• Support students in academic planning, career exploration, and the development of essential life skills.
• Coordinate and manage school-wide assessments as assigned.

50% Physical & Health Education Teacher 

• Deliver daily instruction in physical and health education aligned with curriculum standards and student needs.
• Create lesson plans and materials that promote skill-building, wellness, and student engagement..
• Assess and track student progress in physical health, academic development, and social-emotional learning.
• Communicate student performance and behavior to parents through regular updates and reports.
• Lead or support extracurricular opportunities and initiatives that promote student connection and leadership.
• Contribute to curriculum development by integrating culturally relevant, research-based strategies rooted in Native youth well-being.

Read the full job description here.

Application Instructions Providing a cover letter helps us best understand your interest in the role, so we encourage you to submit one along with your resume. If you need accommodation during the application process, please email [email protected].

Questions? Want to chat about this role before you decide to apply? Contact Jay Hosteen, MNA Principal or the HR Team.