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

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

Thurston
County School District School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Thurston Tumwater A G West Black Hills High School Theresa Matteson Theresa.Matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston Olympia All Private & Home Schools Shari Johnson Shari.Johnson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1869
Thurston Olympia Avanti Alternative High School John Reynolds John.Reynolds@dshs.wa.gov (564) 669-9982
Thurston Tumwater Black Hills High School Theresa Matteson Theresa.Matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston Olympia Capital High School John Reynolds John.Reynolds@dshs.wa.gov (564) 669-9982
Thurston Tumwater Cascadia High School Theresa Matteson Theresa.Matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston All School Districts Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Theresa Matteson theresa.matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston North Thurston Public Schools Envision Career Academy Cheryl L Reith cheryl.reith@dshs.wa.gov (360) 972-4923
Thurston North Thurston Yelm Rainier Gravity Learning Centers Shari Johnson Shari.Johnson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1869
Thurston Rochester HEART High School Jack Horab Jack.Horab@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1858
Thurston Tumwater LINCS Theresa Matteson Theresa.Matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston All other districts Mainstream Deaf & Hard of Hearing Theresa Matteson theresa.matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston Tumwater New Market Skills Center Theresa Matteson Theresa.Matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston North Thurston Public Schools North Thurston High School Cheryl L Reith cheryl.reith@dshs.wa.gov (360) 972-4923
Thurston Olympia Olympia High School John Reynolds John.Reynolds@dshs.wa.gov (564) 669-9982
Thurston Olympia Olympic Regional Learning Academy John Reynolds John.Reynolds@dshs.wa.gov (564) 669-9982
Thurston Olympia Project Search Theresa Matteson theresa.matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
Thurston Rainier Rainier High School Jack Horab Jack.Horab@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1858
Thurston North Thurston Public Schools River Ridge High School Cheryl L Reith cheryl.reith@dshs.wa.gov (360) 972-4923
Thurston Rochester Rochester High School Jack Horab Jack.Horab@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1858
Thurston All School Districts School to Work Shari Johnson Shari.Johnson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1869
Thurston North Thurston Public Schools South Sound Alternative Cheryl L Reith cheryl.reith@dshs.wa.gov (360) 972-4923
Thurston Rainier Southeast BRIDGES Program Jack Horab Jack.Horab@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1858
Thurston Tenino Tenino High School Jack Horab Jack.Horab@dshs.wa.gov (360) 742-1858
Thurston North Thurston Public Schools Timberline High School Cheryl L Reith cheryl.reith@dshs.wa.gov (360) 972-4923
Thurston Olympia Touchstone Community Facility John Reynolds John.Reynolds@dshs.wa.gov (564) 669-9982
Thurston Olympia Transition Academy John Reynolds John.Reynolds@dshs.wa.gov (564) 669-9982
Thurston Tumwater Tumwater High School Cheryl L Reith cheryl.reith@dshs.wa.gov (360) 972-4923
Thurston North Thurston Public Schools Voice Program Cheryl L Reith cheryl.reith@dshs.wa.gov (360) 972-4923
Thurston WSSD WA State School for the Deaf Theresa Matteson theresa.matteson@dshs.wa.gov (360) 995-3356
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

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

Walla Walla
County School District School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Walla Walla Columbia (Walla Walla) Columbia High School Clarisa Braulick clarisa.braulick@dshs.wa.gov (509) 960-1646
Walla Walla Prescott Prescott Jr Sr High Jessica Rusch jessica.rusch@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7803
Walla Walla Touchet Touchet High School Jessica Rusch jessica.rusch@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7803
Walla Walla Waitsburg Waitsburg High School Jessica Rusch jessica.rusch@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7803
Walla Walla Walla Walla Walla Walla High School Jessica Rusch jessica.rusch@dshs.wa.gov (509) 780-7803

Whatcom
County School District School Name Counselor Email Address Phone #
Whatcom Bellingham Bellingham High School Jamie Lewis Jamie.Lewis@dshs.wa.gov (360) 899-6313
Whatcom Blaine Blaine High School Catherine Herring Catherine.herring@dshs.wa.gov (360) 393-1999
Whatcom Bellingham Community Transitions Jamie Lewis Jamie.Lewis@dshs.wa.gov (360) 899-6313
Whatcom Ferndale Ferndale Community Transitions Gina Barrieau gina.barrieau@dshs.wa.gov (360) 988-1737
Whatcom Ferndale Ferndale High School Gina Barrieau gina.barrieau@dshs.wa.gov (360) 988-1737
Whatcom Lummi Nation Lummi High School Amanda Gates-Portillo amanda.gates-portillo@dshs.wa.gov (360) 988-1425
Whatcom Lynden Lynden Christian High School Catherine Herring Catherine.herring@dshs.wa.gov (360) 393-1999
Whatcom Lynden Lynden High School Catherine Herring Catherine.herring@dshs.wa.gov (360) 393-1999

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)