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

Mason
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Mason North Mason North Mason High School Chad Wisehart chad.wisehart@dshs.wa.gov (360) 688-0762
Mason Shelton Shelton High School Chad Wisehart chad.wisehart@dshs.wa.gov (360) 688-0762
Mason North Mason James A. Taylor High School Chad Wisehart chad.wisehart@dshs.wa.gov (360) 688-0762

Whatcom
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Whatcom Lummi Nation Lummi High School Amanda Gates-Portillo amanda.gates-portillo@dshs.wa.gov (360) 988-1425

Douglas
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Douglas Bridgeport Bridgeport High School Laura Hamilton laura.hamilton@dshs.wa.gov (509) 960-0855
Douglas Bridgeport Aurora High School Laura Hamilton laura.hamilton@dshs.wa.gov (509) 960-0855

King
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
King Seattle Nova High School Kimberly DeTalvo kimberly.detalvo2@dshs.wa.gov (206) 715-8848
King Seattle Roosevelt High School Kimberly DeTalvo kimberly.detalvo2@dshs.wa.gov (206) 715-8848
King Seattle Nathan Hale High School Kimberly DeTalvo kimberly.detalvo2@dshs.wa.gov (206) 715-8848
King Seattle Academy for Precision Learning Kimberly DeTalvo kimberly.detalvo2@dshs.wa.gov (206) 715-8848
King Seattle Interagency Schools Kimberly DeTalvo kimberly.detalvo2@dshs.wa.gov (206) 715-8848
King Seattle Middle College High School Kimberly DeTalvo kimberly.detalvo2@dshs.wa.gov (206) 715-8848
King Tahoma Tahoma High School Kirsten VanderHoeven kirsten.vanderhoeven@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1790
King Enumclaw Enumclaw High School Kirsten VanderHoeven kirsten.vanderhoeven@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1790

Pierce
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Pierce Peninsula Henderson Bay Alt High School Deidre Puffer Deidre.Puffer@dshs.wa.gov (253) 325-3774
Pierce Peninsula Community Based Transition Program (Non-School-to-Work) Deidre Puffer Deidre.Puffer@dshs.wa.gov (253) 325-3774
Pierce Peninsula Peninsula High School Deidre Puffer Deidre.Puffer@dshs.wa.gov (253) 325-3774
Pierce Tacoma H.S. Lincoln Deidre Puffer Deidre.Puffer@dshs.wa.gov (253) 325-3774
Pierce Peninsula Gig Harbor High Deidre Puffer Deidre.Puffer@dshs.wa.gov (253) 325-3774
Pierce Tacoma Public Schools Tacoma Online (TOL) Deidre Puffer Deidre.Puffer@dshs.wa.gov (253) 325-3774

Island
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Island Oak Harbor Oak Harbor Exceptional Academy Karen Christian Karen.Christian@dshs.wa.gov (564) 900-0407
Island Oak Harbor Midway High School Karen Christian Karen.Christian@dshs.wa.gov (564) 900-0407
Island Oak Harbor Oak Harbor Virtual Academy Karen Christian Karen.Christian@dshs.wa.gov (564) 900-0407
Island Coupeville Coupeville High School Karen Christian Karen.Christian@dshs.wa.gov (564) 900-0407
Island Oak Harbor HomeConnection Karen Christian Karen.Christian@dshs.wa.gov (564) 900-0407
Island Oak Harbor Oak Harbor High School Karen Christian Karen.Christian@dshs.wa.gov (564) 900-0407
Island South Whidbey South Whidbey High School Karen Christian Karen.Christian@dshs.wa.gov (564) 900-0407

Yakima
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Yakima Grandview Grandview High School Rosa Estrella rosa.estrella@dshs.wa.gov (509) 201-2028
Yakima Granger Granger High School Rosa Estrella Rosa.Estrella@dshs.wa.gov (509) 201-2028
Yakima Sunnyside Sunnyside High School Rosa Estrella rosa.estrella@dshs.wa.gov (509) 201-2028
Yakima Mabton Mabton Jr Sr High School Rosa Estrella rosa.estrella@dshs.wa.gov (509) 201-2028

Grant
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Grant Wahluke Wahluke High School Rosa Estrella Rosa.Estrella@dshs.wa.gov (509) 298-0718

Skagit
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Skagit All School Districts Cascade Job Corps Lori Moore lori.moore@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1740
Skagit Concrete Concrete High School Lori Moore lori.moore@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1740
Skagit Sedro-Woolley State Street High School Lori Moore lori.moore@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1740
Skagit Sedro-Woolley Sedro Woolley Senior High School Lori Moore lori.moore@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1740

Snohomish
County School District School Name Counselor(desc) Email Address Phone #
Snohomish Edmonds MountLake Terrace High School Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Edmonds Meadowdale High School Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Northshore Secondary Academy for Success (SAS) Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Edmonds Edmonds-Woodway High School Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Northshore Bothell HS Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Northshore North Creek High School Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Northshore Adults Transitioning to Independence Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Northshore NETWORKS - (ATP) Bothell High School Portables Diane Shepard diane.shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360) 506-1776
Snohomish Edmonds eLearning Academy Diane Shepard diane.shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Edmonds Lynnwood High School Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Northshore Pathways – ATP Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Edmonds Project Search – Swedish Edmonds Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Edmonds Scriber Lake High School Diane Shepard diane.shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776
Snohomish Edmonds VOICE Program ATP Diane Shepard Diane.Shepard@dshs.wa.gov (360)-506-1776

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)