ANDOVER – Telstar High School social studies teacher Charles Raymond, a 20-year veteran at the SAD 44 secondary school, was unanimously appointed dean of students by the district’s Board of Directors Monday.

According to Superintendent David Murphy, the position will be fulltime with no classroom duties to perform, and will provide Raymond with a stipend of $4,300 along with his regular staff contract salary.

“Charlie has been with the district for 20 years and we are very fortunate to have him,” Murphy told the board. “He has been co-chair of the Promising Futures Grant and played a major role in the Great Expectations Program over the years. He has also been a valuable member of our staff by being actively involved in the overall leadership of the school.”

Murphy explained that as dean of students, Raymond will work with students to help them develop life-long goals, build self-esteem and build social skills that will aid students throughout their lives.

His past position as a social studies teacher will be filled as soon as a suitable replacement can be found and confirmed. In the meantime a substitute teacher will take over his regular classes so he can begin work as dean of students immediately.

It was also reported to the board that the district has received a Maine Educational Loan Marketing Corp. grant from the state that will aid in post-secondary planning for Telstar High School students.

Murphy said that SAD 44 will receive $5,000 this year for planning, and then will receive an additional $30,000 over the next two years to put the plans developed this year in place.

“We are excited about the opportunity to help our students move ahead,” said Murphy.

He told the board that 53 students were served this summer through the SAD 44 summer programs. The programs involved 30 students in grades K-6 and 23 students from the secondary level with the summer school programs being coordinated by veteran teacher Joline Littlehale.