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Our Team
Administrative Staff
Ginny Newman
Director
Grace DeShong
Division Supervisor
Jay Holly
Office Manager
Ginny is the Director of the Office on Youth. She has extensive experience in the human services field, especially with children and families. Ginny is a model “working mom” who is passionate about her family and her profession. Her employees describe her as patient, flexible, creative, and always willing to assist.
Grace comes to the OOY with 15 years of public service experience. For nine years, she was a Virginia State Police Trooper, and for six years, she performed supervisory roles as a Services Supervisor for a local Department of Social Services. She is known for her obsession with flamingos and Wonder Woman. She is married and the proud mother of 3 girls and one very unfriendly cat. Grace likes hanging out with her daughters or working in the yard with her husband.
Jay comes to the OOY with 9 years of youth development experience. For nine years, he grew his career at the Boys & Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County. He started as a Program Leader at the Waynesboro Teen Center, then was hired as the Teen Director, and finally was the Program Director and Mentor Coordinator. Jay mentored youth men at Kate Collins Middle School where he would come in and eat lunch with them and motivate them to get through the rest of the day. Before his journey at the Boys & Girls Club, he worked 7 years at Augusta Health in Nutrition Services, Radiology as a transporter, and finally Physical Therapy as a Technician. He serves at his local church as the Youth Pastor, Worship Leader, Marketing Coordinator, and Project/Program Manager. Outside of working hard, he loves photography, graphic design, traveling, and thrift shopping/antiquing. He is married, and family-oriented. Jay has a heart for the youth in the community and is always looking for better ways to serve and mentor.
Program Staff
Shawn McLain
Juvenile Crime Control Coordinator
Meredith Keppel
Family Services Coordinator
Josh Mutters
Truancy Prevention & Intervention Coordinator
Steve Garon
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Shawn oversees the Juvenile Offenders and Crime Control programs. He says that having the opportunity to “change a life, one teen at a time” keeps him motivated to work at the OOY. Shawn has also served as the Children’s Director at his church over the past several years. He enjoys fishing and motorcycle riding in his free time
Meredith is the Family Services Coordinator. She is currently pursuing an Associates Degree in Human Services from Blue Ridge Community College. She is married with four children. A rabbit and dog round out her family. Meredith has lived in the area most of her life. With almost 15 years work experience, she has a passion for supporting families and building the family unit. With some of her own personal life experiences, she is able to relate to some of the difficult situations families face in this day and age. She is nonjudgmental and wants to assist however possible. Some of the favorite parts of her job are working with the inmates at Middle River Regional Jail, facilitating programs, and working with numerous coalitions to help improve the community.
Josh serves as the Truancy Coordinator. He currently encourages and supports students who have difficulty attending school. He has a passion for helping students accomplish goals and fulfill their potential. When not working you will likely find Josh enjoying time with his wife and two children or competitively fishing.
Steve is the Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator. In this role, he encourages healthy lifestyles for students by promoting safe walking and bicycling options to and from school. He is a recent arrival to the Shenandoah Valley. The Valley is the first place in his adult life where he truly feels “home.” Before coming to the Office on Youth, he had a lengthy career in education and community engagement. Steve is a huge fan of human locomotion and often bicycles area roads or hikes in the mountains.
Angela Babb
PREP Coordinator
Rae Dillon
Outreach Coordinator
Josh Jones
Truancy Mentor
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Brittany Weakley
Truancy Mentor
Angela comes to us with 17 years of experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She has worked in Women’s health, pain management, home health, and cardiac care. She is married with 4 daughters, four dogs, three cats, and a bearded dragon. She likes Tweety Bird, Grogu (baby Yoda) and gnomes. She likes collecting way too many cups, purses, shoes, and office supplies like pens and notebooks. Angela enjoys taking trips, especially like Tennessee and the beach. She doesn’t want to be in the ocean water but loves to watch it from the sand or from the coast while she swims in a pool where she can see the bottom. One of her favorite trips has been to Hawaii and she hopes to go back. She has had a passion and been drawn to children from a young age. She previously watched the babies and children in the nursery at church and helped teach Sunday School. Angela has always had lots of “adopted children.” She has big dreams for this office and the role she plays here and hopes that she can make at least some of them come true!
She comes to us with a Bachelor's in History from Sweet Briar College. She worked in childcare as a Teachers Assistant to her previous Director. Rae's family calls her "A Ray of Sunshine", not just because of her positive attitude; but she's also an early riser! She has three pets: a German Shepard named Willow, a cat named Remedy, and a hamster named Berty. Her favorite way to past time is listening to True Crime Obsessed or other podcasts, going to any second-hand stores / flea markets, or crocheting. Rae is a strong advocate of audio books counting as reading a book. She is excited to be in this new role and continue the amazing work of outreach for the OOY, implement new ideas, network with community partners, and making her own impact in the Central Shenandoah Valley.
Josh Jones is a Truancy Mentor for the Office on Youth. He currently encourages and supports students who have difficulty attending school. His passion is helping students accomplish goals and fulfill their potential. When not working you will likely find Josh enjoying time with his wife and daughter, watching football (GO Army), or woodworking.
Brittany Weakley is a Truancy Mentor for the Office On Youth and a recent grad, with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice at Mary Baldwin University. She is recently married and just moved to the area. With having little experience with the field, she is very excited to learn more about the community and what is to come. Brittany loves spending time with her family on her free time, and also is a dance teacher for Mary Baldwin University.