Secretary Jan Krotee
Amanda Bentz, Project SEARCH Instructor in the Office of Early Childhood and Student Services, has been named Employee of the Month for April 2025.
“Amanda is a leader for our transition to adult life team. She is proactive in checking in and maintaining connections with our teaching staff for each of our programs,” said Jessica Head, Program Administrator in the Office of Early Childhood and Student Services. “Amanda is a go-getter. If a student or team member has an idea that needs to come to fruition, she makes it happen! Not only is she a leader with her own internal team, but she is also a leader in supporting new Project SEARCH teachers throughout our region. Additionally, Amanda is heavily involved with the Special Olympics of Berks County. She took the initiative to bring a brand-new sports option to this area—Floor Ball! Recently, Amanda’s team took home the regional Bronze Medal!”
A lifelong Douglassville resident, Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University and her master’s in Inclusive Education from the University of New England. She and her husband, Chad, have been married for 19 years and have three children: Olivia (17), Weston (15), and Mia (8). Amanda says her family is “probably better than yours,” because they have “a Michael.” Michael is an adult with disabilities who has been living with them for 19 years. Each December, they celebrate their “Mike-a-versary.”
Amanda shares that the most rewarding part of her job is the unplanned moments—the friendships formed, the emotions felt, and the successes celebrated. For her, Project SEARCH is more than a program—it is a community of support that includes interns, families, staff, and partners. Joining Project SEARCH through the BCIU gave her more than a job—it gave her a sense of purpose and a team.
You might not know that Amanda loves Wheel of Fortune. While she hesitates to admit it, she says that Ryan Seacrest is doing a decent job. “He’s no Pat Sajak,” she says, “but he’ll do.”