Peter Vierno, Ph.D., has dedicated his career working to help individuals with disabilities learn the skills necessary to live more independently and as productive members of the communities in which they live. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Penn State University in 1993 and first worked in New Jersey at a vocational training center for adults.
After moving with his wife to the Raleigh, North Carolina area in 1997, Dr. Vierno decided to shift from working with adults with disabilities to preparing high school students with disabilities to meet the goals they wanted to accomplish in adulthood, known as transition services. He was a classroom teacher for eight years at two different high schools in the Wake County Public School System, beginning in 1999. He provided life skills instruction to students with significant intellectual disabilities following the Occupational Course of Study and managed a caseload of 30 students, responsible for developing goals and objectives for each student's annual Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
During this time, he earned his Master’s Degree and began the doctoral program, both in Curriculum and Instruction from North Carolina State University. He was also a job trainer for Project SEE, a summer program through the Arc of Wake County that provides vocational training for high school students with developmental disabilities. He supervised two students at a training site in the community for six summers, followed by one summer as the program director where he coordinated placements for students and job coaches at all community training sites.
In 2007, Dr. Vierno moved into the position he currently holds as a Transition Teacher with Special Education Services for Wake County Schools. In this position, he coordinates transition planning for students with disabilities for several high schools within the school district. He works with families to coordinate adult services they would need when their child exits high school. In addition, he performs assessments on students to determine career strengths and preferences, as well as determine their current level of independent living skills that helps classroom teachers identify post-school goals. He also schedules where students go off campus during the school day to gain off campus vocational training experience, and supervises the job coaches who work directly with the students.
In 2013, he completed his dissertation and earned his Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from North Carolina State University’s School of Education. His dissertation focused on analyzing the extent to which schools provide appropriate transition planning for students with disabilities. He has a strong background in the instructional practices that, based on research in secondary transition, predict a greater likelihood that students with disabilities will be more successful in meeting their post-school goals. Dr. Vierno is ideally suited to working with families to develop a comprehensive transition plan for your child with a disability by utilizing the most current transition assessments and research-based practices.
After moving with his wife to the Raleigh, North Carolina area in 1997, Dr. Vierno decided to shift from working with adults with disabilities to preparing high school students with disabilities to meet the goals they wanted to accomplish in adulthood, known as transition services. He was a classroom teacher for eight years at two different high schools in the Wake County Public School System, beginning in 1999. He provided life skills instruction to students with significant intellectual disabilities following the Occupational Course of Study and managed a caseload of 30 students, responsible for developing goals and objectives for each student's annual Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
During this time, he earned his Master’s Degree and began the doctoral program, both in Curriculum and Instruction from North Carolina State University. He was also a job trainer for Project SEE, a summer program through the Arc of Wake County that provides vocational training for high school students with developmental disabilities. He supervised two students at a training site in the community for six summers, followed by one summer as the program director where he coordinated placements for students and job coaches at all community training sites.
In 2007, Dr. Vierno moved into the position he currently holds as a Transition Teacher with Special Education Services for Wake County Schools. In this position, he coordinates transition planning for students with disabilities for several high schools within the school district. He works with families to coordinate adult services they would need when their child exits high school. In addition, he performs assessments on students to determine career strengths and preferences, as well as determine their current level of independent living skills that helps classroom teachers identify post-school goals. He also schedules where students go off campus during the school day to gain off campus vocational training experience, and supervises the job coaches who work directly with the students.
In 2013, he completed his dissertation and earned his Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from North Carolina State University’s School of Education. His dissertation focused on analyzing the extent to which schools provide appropriate transition planning for students with disabilities. He has a strong background in the instructional practices that, based on research in secondary transition, predict a greater likelihood that students with disabilities will be more successful in meeting their post-school goals. Dr. Vierno is ideally suited to working with families to develop a comprehensive transition plan for your child with a disability by utilizing the most current transition assessments and research-based practices.