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What are “transition” services?  What is a Transition Specialist?

The goal of Transition Specialists is the prepare juveniles for successful transition to public school, employment, and to life in their communities as responsible, productive citizens. The Office of Transition and Diversion Programs (ODTP) serves students who face unique educational challenges because they are placed in facilities out of their home for adjudicated and status related offenses, mental health services, or specialized medical needs.  ODTP Transition Specialists work closely with these students to ensure they are able to enroll in public school or higher education, complete their high school graduation tracks, obtain employment, and develop essential skills needed to function productively in society.

The following list of school and community-based activities are examples of the work of Transition Specialists:

  • Coordinate educational planning with parents/guardians, students, ODTP schools and school districts. Understand educational opportunities available to the student and educate families and school personnel on these options;
  • Identify technical and community based resources available based on the individual student’s need;
  • Collaborate with agencies such as WVDHHR, post-secondary schools, and Youth Reporting Centers (YRCs);
  • Work with Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to provide educational support for at-risk students before they are placed outside their homes;
  • Assist with student engagement initiatives to support school attendance and minimize truancy;
  • Link, refer, and advocate for students’ educational objectives;
  • Attend and participate in education and court-related meetings as needed;
  • Assist with post-secondary test registration, FASFA, and college applications;
  • Provide follow-up services, track progress and collect student data for one year post discharge; and,
  • Anything else needed to help students achieve education and career success!

Transition & Education Recovery Specialists Contacts

NAMELOCATIONADDRESSOFFICE PHONEEMAILCOUNTIES
Mollie Wood - Assisstant DirectorWVSDT Programs1900 Kanawha Blvd. East Charleston, WV 25305304-558-8833mbwood@k12.wv.usAll
Amanda FaulknerPressley Ridge Grant Gardens/Cammack2580 Grant Gardens Road Ona, WV 25545304-743-3974amanda.faulkner@k12.wv.usCabell, Wayne
Brandi SandersLincoln Co HS/ Donald R Kuhn81 Lincoln Panther Way Hamlin, WV 25523304-369-2987 304-842-6000 x4309bdsander@k12.wv.usBoone, Logan, Lincoln, Mingo
Brenda ElmoreDavis-Stuart207 Cottage Drive Lewisburg, WV 24901304-647-5407belmore@k12.wv.usGreenbrier, Pocahontas, Summers
Candi Legursky Beckley Center4712 Robert C Byrd Drive Beckley, WV 25801304-250-6570clegursk@k12.wv.usRaleigh, Fayette
Daniele Pennington - see Terrica Rumer interimKenneth “Honey” Rubenstein141 Forestry Camp Drive Davis, WV 26260304-259-5252dwilfong@k12.wv.usTucker, Taylor, Preston
Dawn WebbHarrison Co BOE/Genesis DX445 W Main Street Clarksburg, WV 26301304-326-7356dawn.webb@k12.wv.usDoddridge, Harrison, Lewis
Deanna WestRitchie County MS/Ronald Muholland105 Ritchie Co School Rd
Ellenboro, WV 26346
304-869-3512deanna.wayne@k12.wv.usRitchie, Pleasants, Tyler, Wetzel, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke, Hancock
Eric SandstromBoard of Child Care / Burlington715 Brown Road Martinsburg, WV 25404304-274-3688psandstrom@k12.wv.usMorgan, Mineral, Hampshire
Erin VilarAcademy Programs5 Crosswind Drive Fairmont, WV 26554304-363-3348erin.vilar@k12.wv.usMonongalia, Marion
Jeff RichardsSam Perdue843 Shelter Road Princeton, WV 25740304-425-4689jeffrey.r.richards@k12.wv.usMercer, McDowell, Wyoming
Kristin TeterElkins Mtn School/ WV Children’s Home /YRC100 Bell Street Elkins, WV 26241304-637-0313kteter@k12.wv.usRandolph, Upshur, Barbour, Webster
Keri ChilcoteBoard of Child Care / Vicki Douglas JC715 Brown Road Martinsburg, WV 25404304-274-3688krcunnin@k12.wv.usBerkeley, Jefferson
Rachel StewartNicholas Co Learning Academy404 Old Main Drive Summersville, WV 26651304-872-4953rastewart@k12.wv.usNicholas, Braxton & Out of State Students
Teresa MacePutnam Co CTE / Tiger Morton300 Roosevelt Blvd. Eleanor, WV 25070304-545-4714teresa.mace@k12.wv.usPutnam, Mason, Jackson
Terrica RumerGrant County Board of Education204 Jefferson Avenue Petersburg, WV 26857304-257-1011 -x127trumer@k12.wv.usPendleton, Grant, Hardy
Debbie AshwellKanawha County Board of Education200 Elizabeth Street- Rm 315 Charleston, WV 25311304-348-1343dashwell@k12.wv.usKanawha, Clay
Tricia Holland Lincoln Center / Lorrie Yeager3010 Murdoch Avenue Parkersburg, WV 26104304-420-2457tricia.holland@k12.wv.usWood, Wirt, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer
Cynthia HartwigerDavis-Stuart207 Cottage Drive Lewisburg, WV 24901304-647-5407chartwiger@k12.wv.usWestern Greenbrier, Monroe
Brittany GouldHarrison Co Bd of Ed447 W Main Street Clarksburg, WV 26301304-326-7301bgould@k12.wv.usAll Counties / Foster & Community Based
Deborah SpearsHarrison Co Bd of Ed446 W Main Street Clarksburg, WV 26301304-326-7304dspears@k12.wv.usAll Counties / Foster & Community Based