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Our Team
Administrative Staff
Ginny Newman
Director
Grace DeShong
Division Supervisor
Jay Holly
Office Manager
Joy Stultz
Grants 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, family-oriented, and has a Feist/Mountain Cur dog named Prince who gives him a run for his money, but loveable and a cuddler. Jay has a heart for the youth in the community and is always looking for better ways to serve and mentor.
Joy is the OOY Grants Manager. Her responsibilities include writing, monitoring, and reporting on all grants obtained by the OOY. She has a gift of expression through the written word as well as a heart to improve lives. Joy loves hiking in National Parks, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
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
Family Life Coordinator
Josh Jones
Truancy Mentor
Sam Weed
Program Assistant
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!
Josh Jones is currently the Truancy Program Assistant. 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.
Sam is a Program Assistant for the Office on Youth and a recent grad, with a Bachelors Degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Science from nearby W&L. She moved to the Shenandoah Valley for college and couldn’t stand to leave the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains after graduating. New to the field, she is passionate about community and family-oriented work. Sam currently lives with her rescue dog Brandi and they spend their free time hiking, cooking, and exploring the valley.