Student Life
Counseling
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School counselors are here to support your family with any social, emotional, or academic need that arises. We provide individual and small group counseling, community referrals, crisis intervention, and many other services at PRMS. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns throughout the school year. We hope your family has a wonderful school year!
PRMS Counselors have created a Counselor Canvas Page to support students academically, socially, and emotionally during our remote instructional delivery and have enrolled all students. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Palin, Mr. Rainey, or Mrs. Breslin.
Meet Our Counselors
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Steven Palin (6th Grade Counselor)
About Mr. Palin
I am Steven Palin and this is my first year at Porter Ridge Middle School. I am excited to be working with the 6th grade class this year. For the past ten years I worked in the Counseling and Support Services Department at York Technical College. Before that, I worked in in a community mental health center in South Carolina.
I have lived in Union County since 1998 and have had two kids graduate from UCPS and one more coming through elementary school. I call Union County home even though I am originally from California. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia International University. After graduation, I worked with Middle and High Schoolers and their families for eleven years before pursuing counseling. I graduated from UNCC with a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling in 2009 and have been practicing ever since.
I am excited about working with middle schoolers again. There is so much change that happens in these years, and it can be incredibly tough to navigate all of it. When you get hit sideways in one area of life, it is easy for it to spill over into other areas too. I am here to come alongside and help you make some sense of it all and build on your strengths to be successful not just in school but in all areas of your life.
I look forward to an incredible year of learning along with you here at Porter Ridge Middle School.
Contact Mr. Palin
- Phone: 704-225-7555
- Email: steven.palin@ucps.k12.nc.us
- Schedule a time with Mr. Palin
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Ray Rainey (7th Grade Counselor)
About Mr. Rainey
My name is Lewis “Ray” Rainey. I have gone by Ray all of my life! I was born in Charlotte, and grew up near Lancaster, SC. I am married and I have an older brother named Jeff and a spoiled niece and teen-aged nephew who live in Seattle, WA. I also have a niece who attends Boise State University. My beautiful wife Brook and I have been married for 4 years and we have no children, unless you count our 1-year-old mess of a Maltese Shih Tzu puppy. His name is Charlie, AKA head of the household!
In 2015, I decided that I wanted to pursue a Master’s in School Counseling and I am super happy that I did. Yes, I was in my early 40’s but it’s never too late! I graduated with my Master’s in School Counseling from Liberty University in 2018. I have a wonderful sense of accomplishment and feel that a part of my life that was never fulfilled in my career as a Social Worker is doing so now later in life! I am so thankful for my new role here at Porter Ridge and I am really enjoying it here and I am looking forward to a new and exciting journey with you all!
Contact Mr. Rainey
- Phone: 704-225-7555
- Email: lewis.rainey@ucps.k12.nc.us
- Schedule a time with Mr. Rainey
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Penny Breslin (8th Grade Counselor)
About Mrs. Breslin
I am Penny Anderson Breslin, and I am the 8th grade counselor at Porter Ridge Middle School! I am very excited to be here! I have multiple years of high school experience, so I am ready to dive in and experience Middle School! I was one of the two high school counselors at West Stanly High School in Oakboro, NC for 16 years.
I grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC - so I consider that my hometown, and was a local there until I left to go to college. I received my BA in Theology from Belmont Abbey College, and my Masters in School Counseling from UNC Charlotte in 2006. I live in East Charlotte with my husband James, and we have two grown children. Our daughter Miriam teaches high school English Language Arts, and our son Owen used to be a Correctional Officer, but he is currently pursuing a different career path.
As a school counselor, my focus is to offer aid and support to all students, either academically, socially, or emotionally. I partner with staff, parents, and other professionals as needed to provide these services - so we all work as a team for student success!!!
I look forward to working with your children during this school year!
Contact Mrs. Breslin
- Phone: 704-225-7555
- Email: Penny.AndersonBreslin@ucps.k12.nc.us
- Schedule a time with Mrs. Breslin
Confidentiality Statement
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School counselors recognize their primary obligation for confidentiality is to the student but balance that obligation with an understanding of the family or guardians’ legal and inherent rights to be the guiding voice in their children’s lives (ASCA Code of Ethics).
The role of the school counselor in regards to confidentiality is:
- To support the students right to privacy and protect confidential information received from students, the family, guardian and staff members
- To explain the meaning and limits of confidentiality to students in developmentally appropriate terms
- To provide appropriate disclosure and informed consent regarding the counseling relationship and confidentiality
- To inform students and the family of the limits to confidentiality when: Student poses a danger to self or others, Court ordered disclosure, Consultation with other professionals in support of the student i.e. colleagues, supervisors, treatment teams, and other support personnel
- To keep personal notes separate from educational records and not disclose their contents except when privacy exceptions exist
- To seek guidance from supervisors and appropriate legal advice when their records are subpoenaed
- To assert their belief that information shared by students is “confidential” and should not be revealed without the student’s consent
- To adhere to all laws protecting student records, health information, and special services (i.e., HIPAA, FERPA, IDEA)
Report Bullying
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You can report bullying anonymously by calling the number and leaving a message, or completing the Google form linked below. Please leave as much information as possible.
- Call (704) 980-7067
- Report Bullying
