Bridges' Educational Community

The success of any great school is determined by the strength of its community. To reach their full potential, twice-exceptional students need to be with other twice-exceptional students who stimulate learning and create friendships. They need faculty members who respect their intelligence and who see them as talented young people, not as struggling disabled children. Twice-exceptional students thrive when their parents are in a supportive community with other parents seeking to understand and accept their children. When twice-exceptional children are educated in a community that values who they are -- one that defines them not by what they cannot do, but by the extraordinary things that they can do -- then these unique children have the best chance of growing into socially capable, goal oriented and highly educated men and women.

Faculty & Staff

The faculty and administrators of Bridges Academy are bright, passionate educators with diverse interests and a commitment to the success of twice Staff exceptional (2e) learners. Each faculty member is accomplished in his/her subject area and receives on-going training under the guidance of Dr. Susan Baum, Bridges’ Director of Professional Development. Dr. Baum is acknowledged nationally and internationally as an expert in 2e education. Faculty also participates in professional development at many levels throughout the year including monthly in-service sessions and lengthier workshops prior to and after the academic school year. They attend and often present at local, state and national conferences addressing giftedness, learning differences and the social/emotional needs of our population. They also participate in educational seminars presented by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).

Bridges’ on-site Educational Therapist is board certified by the Association of Educational Therapists. The school psychologist is a licensed, clinical Ph.D. with more than 12 years of experience working with twice exceptional students.

Staff Directory

Clicking on a name in color below will, for most Web browsers, open a blank e-mail already addressed to that person. If this does not happen, and you use Internet Explorer, you can click TOOLS, then OPTIONS, then PROGRAMS tab and insert your mail program.

Oscar Alvarez
H.S. & M.S. Fitness

Laura Bahr, MA
M.S. Math, M.S. Drama

Susan Baum, PhD
Director of Professional Development

Jim Berkowitz
High School Social Studies, Film

Barry Blonsky
H.S. Fitness

Jim Bowers
Technology Director, H.S. Media Technology Teacher

Connie Condos
M.S. Art

Tracy Doucette
H.S. Biological Sciences & Chemistry

Deborah Dowling, PhD
High School Director/High School Science

Marcy Dann, M.A. BCET
Educational Therapist

Nadine Eisenkolb, MS
M.S. Science

Aidyl Gonzalez, PhD
H.S. Science