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.
Email Joan

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.
Email Kelley

Coming Soon
Email Leslie

Bio.
Email Mark

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.
Email Archie

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.
Email Eric

Please check back for an updated bio.
Email Brian

Matt recently joined Bridges.
Email Matt

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”.
Email Ryan