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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Leslie Preston - Business Services Manager PROFILE
Coming Soon
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Mentor Staff
Mark Morris - Mentor PROFILE
Bio.
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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, CSC Counselor, 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, Mathematics & Science teacher/Mentor PROFILE
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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