The cornerstone of Project SEARCH is total workplace immersion in a large business.
Project SEARCH is a partnership between Nebraska VR, a business, area school systems, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Assistive Technology Partnership, and Division of Developmental Disabilities. This one year school-to-work program is business led and takes place entirely in the workplace. The experience includes a combination of classroom instruction, job exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations.
Project SEARCH is a high school transition program that provides training and education intended to lead to employment for individuals with disabilities. Students who have completed their academic requirements may apply if they are in their last year of high school. Each interested student is required to make a formal application to the program and to interview with a selection committee. Students are selected through a rating process by a committee consisting of representatives of a school, Nebraska VR, and the Project SEARCH host business. All students must be eligible for services with Nebraska VR.
The program provides real-life work experience to help youth with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to adult life. Each student participates in three 10-week internships during the school year. In each rotation the student learns job-specific skills while having the opportunity to put employability skills into practice. Monthly progress meetings are held to help students define their career goal and to plan necessary steps to achieve that goal.
Project SEARCH is an international trademarked and copyrighted program model, which focuses solely on employment for Project SEARCH interns.
The cornerstone of Project SEARCH is total workplace immersion in a large business. For five days a week students report to the host business, learn employability skills in the classroom, and job skills while participating in a variety of work experiences. Managers at the internship sites work with the Project SEARCH staff to support the students during the day. Students get continuous feedback from the internship manager, co-workers, and Project SEARCH staff. A certified special education teacher and skills trainer work with both the students and the business staff. Students end their day by reflection, problem solving, planning, and journaling key learning points. The goal upon program completion and graduation is to utilize skills acquired during the internship for gainful employment.
Email the Marketing Team at Nebraska VR or see the list of Project Search Contacts.
View Project SEARCH Sites in a larger map.
Business Liaison: Lindsy Zechman, lindsyzechmann@catholichealth.net
Teacher: Steph Maaske, stemaaske@kearneycats.com
VR: Elaine Anderson, elaine.anderson@nebraska.gov; Jodi Petersen, jodi.petersen@nebraska.gov
ATP: Pam Cody, pam.cody@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: Kimberly Scherbarth, Kimberly.Scherbarth@nebraska.gov
Referring school: Kearney Public Schools
Business Liaison: Melissa Griffith, melissa.griffith@commonspirit.org
Teacher: Michella Honas, mhonas@gips.org
VR: Rob Bishop, rob.bishop@nebraska.gov
ATP: Pam Cody, pam.cody@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: Kimberly Scherbarth, Kimberly.Scherbarth@nebraska.gov
Referring school: Grand Island Public School
Business Liaison: Shavonne Washington- Krauth, skrauth@childrensomaha.org
Teacher: Melissa Scheidt, scheidt.melissa@westside66.net
VR: Risa Jensen risa.jensen@nebraska.gov
ATP: Brooke Harrie, brooke.harrie@nebraska.gov; Maddie Piittmann, maddie.piittmann@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: N/A
Referring School: Westside Community
Business Liaison: Codie Meehan, CMeehan@thecornhusker.com
Teacher: Stacy Buescher, stacy.buescher@district145.org
VR: Blaine Harvey, blaine.harvey@nebraska.gov
ATP: David Altman, david.altman@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: Kaytlyn Hilligas, kaytlyn.hilligas@nebraska.gov
Referring school: Waverly, Norris, Malcolm, Syracuse, Wahoo, and surrounding districts
Business Liaison: Sandy Buonanni, Sandy.Buonanni@atriumhospitality.com
Teacher: Alyssa Vincent, alyssa.vincent@plcschools.org
VR: Travis Upshaw, travis.upshaw@nebraska.gov
ATP: Brooke Harrie, brooke.harrie@nebraska.gov; Maddie Pittmann, Maddie.pittmann@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: N/A
Referring Schools: Papillion LaVista
Business Liaison: Heather Brethouwer, Heather.Brethouwer@atriumhospitality.com
Teacher: Kim Hovendick, khovend@lps.org
VR: Cliff Troyer, cliff.troyer@nebraska.gov
ATP: David Altman, david.altman@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: Kaytlyn Hilligas, kaytlyn.hilligas@nebraska.gov
Referring Schools: Lincoln Public Schools
Business Liaison: Jennifer Stone, jstone@madonna.org
Teacher: Andrea Street, astreet@epsne.org
VR: Nick Wilde, nick.wilde@nebraska.gov
ATP: Brooke Harrie, brooke.harrie@nebraska.gov; Maddie Pittmann, maddie.pittmann@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: N/A
Referring school: Elkhorn Public School
Business Liaison: Brenda Aipperspach, brenda.aipperspach@nebraska.gov
Teacher: Amy Vetter, avetter@hhstigers.com
VR: Kara Allee, kara.allee@nebraska.gov
ATP: Pam Cody, pam.cody@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: Kimberly Scherbarth, Kimberly.Scherbarth@nebraska.gov
Referring schools: Hastings, Adams, Central Silver Lake, Doniphan-Trumball, Kenesaw, Blue Hill, Harvard, Superior, ESU 9
Business Liaison: Paula Nennemann, pnenneman@nebraskamed.com
Teacher: Pat Dunlap, pdunlap@madonnaschool.org
VR: Lindsay Brown, lindsay.brown@nebraska.gov
ATP: Brooke Harrie, brooke.harrie@nebraska.gov; Maddie Pittmann, maddie.pittmann@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: N/A
Referring school: OPS
Business Liaison: Courtney Thompson, cothompson@nebraskamed.com
Teacher: Renee Proksel, renee.proksel@bpsne.net
VR: Lindsay Brown, lindsay.brown@nebraska.gov
ATP: Brooke Harrie, brooke.harrie@nebraska.gov; Maddie Pittmann, maddie.pittmann@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: N/A
Referring school: Bellevue
Julie Grim, jgrimm@heritage-communities.com
Teacher: Kendall Rider, karider@mpsomaha.org
VR: Naomi Rolofson, naomi.rolofson@nebraska.gov
ATP: Brooke Harrie, brooke.harrie@nebraska.gov; Maddie Pittmann, maddie.pittmann@nebraska.gov
NCBVI: N/A
Referring Schools: Millard Public Schools
The Pathway to Employment Video Series is designed to de-mystify the many services provided to clients and businesses while highlighting the innovation that is the culture of Nebraska VR. While certainly each story is either one of progress towards an employment goal or a client's employment goal success, they are also stories about the important role played by staff members, businesses, ATP, Easter Seals, Project SEARCH, and others. Go to: vr.nebraska.gov/videos/