Deadre Ussery

“The Bridge Program is an intensive social, emotional and academic intervention that addresses the specific needs of students whose academic gaps communicate a need for targeted instruction, but whose behavior frequently limits their ability to receive it. It temporarily removes identified students from their homerooms and places them in a trauma-informed instructional program run by a team of trained professionals in a small group, therapeutic setting. It allows staff to take a more thoughtful, individual approach with students, and it allows students to receive the personalized attention and instruction needed for success. By addressing students’ specific needs, the Bridge Program discourages any rush to diagnose students with emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, or developmental delays. By focusing on skill-building, the Bridge Program allows students to experience success, build self-confidence, effectively bridge back into their homerooms, and avoid misdiagnoses, harmful labels and exclusionary practices.”