Your local Project SEARCH team is a collaboration between Augusta County, Staunton City, and Waynesboro City Schools, DARS, and Augusta Health. Together we are a dynamic partnership with the goal to help post high school graduates in the Valley with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain job skills to achieve competitive and enjoyable employment.

Our Staff

Andy and Becky have been with Augusta Health Project SEARCH since its inception in August of 2015. Both Andy and Becky are approachable, down to earth folks who focus on helping their interns shine. They bring a rich background of uniquely valuable experiences to the program.

Instructor

Andy King

Andy has over 30 years teaching experience, but he did not originally set out to teach. He graduated from Washington and Lee with a degree in psychology and worked with at-risk kids in Georgia. Andy then went on to get his M.Ed in Counseling with the goal of being a family counselor. He also started a not for profit called Adventure Outreach, mentoring kids without dad’s, while taking them on wilderness adventures. 

As many can probably relate, Andy’s career path has had many twists and turns. In his various roles teaching elementary through high-school, he often felt like a “round peg in a square hole.” Ultimately he found the most satisfaction working one on one with students seeking their GED. He appreciated the practical hands-on nature of the work and the ability to see the growth progression with each student. 

For the past ten years Andy has been the instructor for Augusta Health Project SEARCH. He has found the program to be a rewarding opportunity to teach hands-on practical skills to a small number of post high graduates who are eager to learn job skills for the future. 

When he’s not working with the Project SEARCH interns Andy can be found reading, or hanging out with his family, and dachshund Sammi.

Job Coach

Becky Halterman

Becky has been with the program here in the Valley from its beginning in 2015. She is a Job Coach with Career Support Systems. Her role is a major part of what makes the Project SEARCH program so valuable and unique. Along with guiding the interns during the academic year, she continues to help provide services in the summer by helping Project SEARCH graduates use the skills they learned at Project SEARCH to find employment. Over the summer Becky helps with job searches, resume building, applying for jobs, and even on the job training once hired.

Becky earned her B.S. in Psychology from Bridgewater College here in Virginia. Since 2006 Becky has fostered dogs in her home for Augusta Dog Adoptions. She also Volunteers for Ride with Pride and she is on the board of both organizations.

When she is not at work with Project SEARCH, Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, or volunteering, you’ll probably find Becky at a music festival.

Skills Trainer

Carmen Snodgrass

Carmen is “The Noob” of the group. She spends most of her time working one on one with the interns and whatever else Andy and Becky tell her to do.

Carmen earned her B.F.A in Figure Drawing from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Prior to joining the Augusta Health Project SEARCH team she worked in healthcare for ten years and then as an aide in OT/PT at WWRC. This is where she found “her people” and realized how much she, “Loves working with the young adults we are privileged to serve in our post-high programs.”

When she’s not at work Carmen can be found making something or attending a retreat at Guidance for a Better Life Retreat Center up in the Blue Ridge.