Experienced Staff

Our experienced staff consists of dedicated individuals from a variety of disciplines, each of them bringing a wide-range of expertise and diversity to Bridges Academy. Most of our staff members have worked with at-risk adolescents, in some capacity, at other residential care settings, therapeutic wilderness programs and private schools.

Administrative Staff

Joan McOmber, LMFT - Executive Director  PROFILE

As one of the founders of Bridges Academy, Joan has been with the School since its inception in the Fall of 1997. Just prior to helping start Bridges Academy, Joan worked as a field/family therapist at SageWalk, The Wilderness School. Throughout her 30 year career, Joan has worked in various capacities in the family services field. Joan worked at Parental Stress Service (PSS) of Alameda County on the 24-hour hotline, providing counseling and teaching parent education. During this time, Joan also helped develop curriculum and facilitated groups for both Mandela House and for a program called Families in Recovery. Joan earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Sociology from the University of California at Davis and holds a Masters Degree in Counseling from California State University at Hayward. Joan has been a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in the State of California since 1989.
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Kelley Jones, BS - Program Director  PROFILE

Kelley Joined Bridges Academy in the Spring of 2004 as a Mentor. Prior to joining the Bridges Academy team, Kelley worked with high school students and their families for over 30 years in a counselor role. Kelley has a wide-range of expertise in counseling students and their parents, both in one-on-one and in small group situations. He has taught numerous classes and seminars on parenting skills and family life and has extensive experience in planning, organizing and leading student recreational programs, humanitarian efforts and community service activities. Kelley holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis in Youth Ministry from Corbin College.
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Scott Getty, BSN - School Nurse & Physical Education   PROFILE

Scott grew up in Central Oregon and later moved to Kentucky to pursue B.S.N. at Bellarmine University. He joined the Army in 2006 and worked as a nurse for four years. His tour of duty included working at The United States Institute for Surgical Research Burn Center as well as Ireland Army Community Hospital. He taught Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support as well as Basic Life Support. Currently, Scott is completing his Bachelor's degree and intends to enroll in the Masters of Science in Nurse Anesthesia program within the upcoming years. He started working with Bridges Academy in February of 2010 and also works at other hospitals throughout Central Oregon. He enjoys the challenges of interacting with the student population at Bridges Boys Academy as well as observing the progress our students so often make. An avid outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, golfing, hiking, fishing and many other outdoor activities whenever possible.
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Paige Tapia, Business Services Manager   PROFILE

Paige Tapia joined Bridges Academy in December 2007. After 10 years in the temporary staffing industry, both medical and professional and with her background in office and employee management, she brings many talents to the Bridges team. Paige is a Utah native, but has lived in Oregon most of her life. Paige is currently the Business Services Manager which includes accounting, human and student resources and nutritional coordination.
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Mentor Staff

Archie Hamilton, Mentor  PROFILE

Born and raised in Central Oregon, Archie is a highly motivated and optomistic member of the Bridges team. Currently attending Central Oregon Community College, Archie is studying to become a drug and alcohol counselor. He is also a Certified Toastmaster and is currently a mentor for the Deschutes County drug courts and a panel coordinator for the Bend Police Department. Archie has also worked with other at risk teens as a tutor and teacher's aid, assisting in reading, writing, math and English as a second language.
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Eric Jacobs-Nicholls, Case Manager & Mentor   PROFILE

Eric has been with Bridges Academy for many years, not only as a mentor, but as a former student as well. Eric is well versed in the ways of Bridges and brings great insight and encouragement to our students. Eric attended college in Washington and is working towards a degree in social work.
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Brian Hodges, Night Staff & Mentor   PROFILE

Please check back for an updated bio.
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Matthew Hogstad, Night Staff & Mentor   PROFILE

Matt recently joined Bridges.
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Ryan Massey, Mentor   PROFILE

A recent addition to Bridge's staff, Ryan was raised in the culturally stimulating city of New Orleans. His mother was a French teacher and his father a professor at a university. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters in Education. He then taught at a boarding school in Arizona where he meet his wife. The two of them moved to Utah and Ryan spent a year working in wilderness therapy with at-risk teens before settling down in Oregon.
Ryan has been around the world and to all 7 continents, is a Wilderness First Responder, and has eleven years experience working with kids. His wife and he live in Tumalo with their happy family of 5 horses, a parrot, and a one-eyed rescue dog named “Boo-Boo”.
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Scott Jones, Night Staff & Mentor   PROFILE

Scott is a University of Oregon graduate with degrees in Humanities and Second Language Acquisition and Teaching. He has taught English overseas in Japan and Taiwan. He fills-in for both night and day staff at Bridges when needed. Scott also updates the website.
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