Find a School Transition Counselor

Transition Services are a team effort that provides support and guidance to students with disabilities as they prepare to move from high school to the work place. Each student’s transition team includes the student, parents, school staff, and VR Counselors.
Transition teams assist students to identify career interests and learn what skills and training are needed to prepare for careers in those fields of interest.

The list is broken out by county name. You may use the drop down school name search below or the write-in field if you know the exact name of the school district to find the DVR Transition Liaison for every school in Washington. You may also contact DVR through your teacher, school counselor, or the nearest DVR office.

Must be an exact match

Skagit
County School District(asc) School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Skagit Anacortes Anacortes High School Kari Russom Kari.Russom@dshs.wa.gov (360) 584-7074
Skagit All School Districts Skagit Valley College INVEST Karis Russom kari.russom@dshs.wa.gov (360) 584-7074
Skagit All School Districts Cascade Job Corps Lori Moore lori.moore@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1740
Skagit All School Districts ATTIC Program Karis Russom kari.russom@dshs.wa.gov (360) 584-7074
Skagit All School Districts Northwest Career & Technical Academy (NWC&TA) Kyle Jones kyle.jones@dshs.wa.gov (360) 870-8951

Thurston
County School District(asc) School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Thurston All School Districts Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Theresa Matteson theresa.matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston All School Districts School to Work Shari Johnson Shari.Johnson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1869
Thurston All other districts Mainstream Deaf & Hard of Hearing Theresa Matteson theresa.matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356

Whatcom
County School District(asc) School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Whatcom All Districts Whatcom Discovery School Gina Barrieau gina.barrieau@dshs.wa.gov (360) 988-1737

Lewis
County School District(asc) School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Lewis Adna Adna High School Justin Rinta justin.rinta@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1744

Grays Harbor
County School District(asc) School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Grays Harbor Aberdeen J M Weatherwax High School Justin Rinta justin.rinta@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1744
Grays Harbor Aberdeen Harbor High School Justin Rinta justin.rinta@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1744

Spokane
County School District(asc) School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Spokane Next Gen Zone Bethany Johnson bethany.johnson@dshs.wa.gov (509) 440-1288
Spokane Project Search Michael Fox michael.fox@dshs.wa.gov (509) 934-0288
Spokane STAR Program School Bethany Johnson bethany.johnson@dshs.wa.gov (509) 440-1288
Spokane Center For Childhood Deafness & Hearing Loss School Michael Fox michael.fox@dshs.wa.gov (509) 934-0288

How does Transition work?

While the student is in high school, he or she works with family, school staff, and a counselor from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to develop a plan for transitioning from high school to work. A broad array of individualized services are available to help students achieve their employment goals. After the student finishes school, DVR services focus on:

  • Gaining work skills needed to achieve an employment goal.
  • Job match, job placement, and follow-up.

Once employed, individuals may receive additional services, if needed, to keep a job. No person, because of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, age or disability shall be discriminated against in employment, services, or any aspect of the program’s activities.

Begin the School to Work Transition video below and learn more about what transition services look like.

For more information, call our statewide toll free number: 1-800-637-5627 (V/TTY)