Avon Principal Ensures 'Smooth Transition' After High School Counseling Director's Departure

Jane Ellen Peregrin resigned over the summer from her role as director of school counseling at Avon High School this summer to accept a new job of the same title in Simsbury. 

While she has left the district, she is still offering this help to her former rising senior students and her replacement.

"Mrs. Peregrin has kindly volunteered to write college letters of recommendation, upon student request, for her rising seniors and will be available for consult to our new program director," Avon High School's new principal Christopher J. Tranberg wrote in an August letter to parents and guardians of Avon students originally assigned to Peregrin.

Tranberg comes to Avon after serving as Simsbury High School principal, where Peregrin, of Avon, now works as the new director of school counseling. 

In his Aug. 12 letter, he assured parents of students "currently assigned to her school counseling caseload" that the district is "working to fill the vacancy quickly and develop a smooth transition plan for all students."

"We are fortunate to have an outstanding team of school counselors and I am confident we will find a program director that will continue in our tradition of excellence," Tranberg wrote to parents. "While I'm aware that this transition can lead to uncertainty moving into the new school year, please be aware that your AHS student's new counselor will be capable of providing them with excellent programming for the remainder of their high School experience."

Avon Public Schools also recently hired Debrah Schwager as a new guidance counselor at the high school effective Aug. 16, according to a list of new hires presented to the school board at a meeting toward the end of last month. 

Peregrin was scheduled to meet with Tranberg over the summer to "discuss transition planning," she wrote to Avon Superintendent Gary Mala in her July 26 letter of resignation. 

Parents cannot request specific counselors for their children, Tranberg said in his letter to parents. He thanked "parents in advance for respecting this" and said that they may contact him with any questions.