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

Walla Walla
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Walla Walla Walla Walla Walla Walla High School Jessica Rusch jessica.rusch@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7803

Yakima
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Yakima Wapato Wapato High School Gilbert Garza gilbert.garza@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7794
Yakima West Valley (Yakima) West Valley High School Carolyn Nease carolyn.nease@dshs.wa.gov (509) 571-4103
Yakima Mount Adams White Swan High School Gilbert Garza gilbert.garza@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7794
Yakima Toppenish Yakama Tribal Gilbert Garza gilbert.garza@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7794
Yakima Zillah Zillah High School Gilbert Garza gilbert.garza@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7794

Grant
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Grant Warden Warden High School Francisco Felan francisco.felan@dshs.wa.gov (509) 480-0121
Grant Washtucna Washtucna High School Francisco Felan francisco.felan@dshs.wa.gov (509) 480-0121
Grant Wilson Creek Wilson Creek High School Francisco Felan francisco.felan@dshs.wa.gov (509) 480-0121

Pierce
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Pierce Franklin Pierce Washington High School Haley Gross haley.gross@dshs.wa.gov (253) 298-2661
Pierce White River White River High School Elizabeth Oluwaleye elizabeth.oluwaleye@dshs.wa.gov (253) 256-0173
Pierce Tacoma Wilson Haley Gross haley.gross@dshs.wa.gov (253) 298-2661

Clark
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Clark Vancouver Washington School for the Blind Rhonda Nester Rhonda.Nester@dshs.wa.gov (564) 219-2462
Clark Vancouver Washington School for the Deaf Don Redford Don.Redford@dshs.wa.gov (253) 549-5939
Clark Washougal Washougal Adult Transition Program Helen Christensen Helen.Christensen@dshs.wa.gov (564) 999-1817
Clark Washougal Washougal High School Helen Christensen Helen.Christensen@dshs.wa.gov (564) 999-1817

Okanogan
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Okanogan Omak Washington Virtual Academy - OMAK Carolina Perky maria.perky@dshs.wa.gov (509) 859-6027

Douglas
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Douglas Waterville Waterville HS Eric Stemm eric.stemm@dshs.wa.gov (509) 960-1273

Stevens
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Stevens Wellpinit Wellpinit Elem/High School Judy Bales judy.bales@dshs.wa.gov (509) 960-1305

Chelan
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Chelan Wenatchee Wenatchee High School Salvador Constancio salvador.constancio@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7819
Chelan Wenatchee Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center Salvador Constancio salvador.constancio@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7819
Chelan Wenatchee Westside High School Salvador Constancio salvador.constancio@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7819

King
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
King Auburn West Auburn Senior High School Dustin Nicholson dustin.nicholson@dshs.wa.gov (253) 656-1179
King Seattle West Seattle High School Nicholas Michiels nicholas.michiels@dshs.wa.gov (206) 472-0299
King Northshore Woodinville HS Kimberly DeTalvo kimberly.detalvo2@dshs.wa.gov (206) 715-8848

Spokane
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Spokane West Valley (Spokane) West Valley High School Jere Jaline jere.jaline@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7787
Spokane Spokane West Valley School District Sarah Klaja Sarah.Klaja@dshs.wa.gov (509) 514-1517
Spokane Spokane Wilbur/Creston High School Val Davis Val.Davis@dshs.wa.gov (509) 934-0160

Snohomish
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Snohomish Arlington Weston High School Lynn Haslett lynn.haslett@dshs.wa.gov (425) 530-7068

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

Lewis
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Lewis White Pass White Pass Jr Sr High Justin Rinta justin.rinta@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1744
Lewis Winlock Winlock Senior High Justin Rinta justin.rinta@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1744

Klickitat
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Klickitat White Salmon Valley White Salmon Academy Gilbert Garza gilbert.garza@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7794
Klickitat Wishram Wishram High School Gilbert Garza gilbert.garza@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7794

Lincoln
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Lincoln Wilbur Wilbur Secondary School Jere Jaline jere.jaline@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7787

Pacific
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Pacific Willapa Valley School District Willapa Valley Jr Sr High School Brandon Shores Brandon.Shores@dshs.wa.gov (360) 660-2582

Cowlitz
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Cowlitz Woodland Woodland High School Joshua Ipock joshua.ipock@dshs.wa.gov (360) 916-1471

Thurston
County School District School Name(desc) Counselor Email Address Phone #
Thurston Yelm Yelm Extension School Shari Johnson Shari.Johnson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1869
Thurston Yelm Yelm High School Shari Johnson Shari.Johnson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1869

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)