News & Events: Bridge Academy is a Bridge to Somewhere ~ The Herald-Palladium 

Four years ago, Rush, 26, struggled to support three children, "running into a lot of temporary jobs, dead-end jobs, not making any cash - it was just like a dead-end street," he said.

At one of those jobs Rush suffered a thumb injury that had his doctors talking about amputation, which didn't happen.

"I was going into debt, I almost lost my house, I had to take off work eight weeks - I'm (saying), like, 'This factory work isn't gonna get it,'" he said.

But Rush's fortunes changed after joining YouthBuild, which is run by Michigan Works of Berrien Cass and Van Buren counties. YouthBuild is now part of the Bridge Academy, which opened last fall at 777 Riverview Drive, Benton Harbor.

The academy is a year-round alternative school for anyone 16 and over who is looking to complete their general education diploma or high school diplomas, Chief Education Officer Chris Fielding said.

Those who finish the program gain the job and life skills they need to function while making the transition to a better career. "Employers are going, 'Please take direction, be part of a team, don't argue with everybody and be on time,'" Fielding said. "As a work force development organization, we have that opportunity to instill those skills."

Rush has seen that example play out in his life.

He works for Shelton Construction, which has taken him to major projects like the carousel restoration at Silver Beach and the Harbor Shores clubhouse.

"Seeing that now, and all the kids enjoying it (the Ferris wheel), it's a joy I never imagined I'd have," Rush said. "I see the trenches I dig, the sweat I put in."

Michigan Works spokeswoman Candice Elders said the academy tries to meet two goals.

"We need to make sure we're not letting one single person fall through the cracks of our education system - not just because it's the right thing to do, but also, because it's essential for making sure that businesses have access to a skilled work force," she said.

Although the academy has done little advertising, its growth has been rapid, fueled mostly by word of mouth. Current enrollment is 81 students, with a daily summer attendance averaging 30 to 35 students, Fielding said.

As a result of this growth, the academy is capping fall enrollment at 135 students.

"We only have 35 spaces left for fall, so if you want to enroll, call us now. A place like this, when it's built 100 percent on relationships ... you can die of indigestion," Fielding said. "You lose that relationship when you have too many."

By the numbers Several key factors set the academy apart, starting with an age spread from 16 through 76, which ensures a unique learning experience, Fielding said.

"They'll (adults) always reinforce: 'Man, I'm glad you're doing it now - you don't want to be my age, unemployed, trying to get this done,'" he said.

However, the academy isn't a charter school.

"We only accept students who have been kicked out or dropped out from other schools," Fielding said. Students can enroll under schools of choice through Sept. 16, he said.

A lot of referrals come from high school counselors, or relatives who want to see students back in school.

Teddy Clark, 19, of Benton Harbor has been at the academy for three-and-a-half months. He came to the area from Florida, where he'd repeated his senior year.

"I messed up real bad," Clark said. "I wouldn't pay attention. I was just a big goofball. I wanted to live with my dad, and that turned out not to be good at all."

Clark credits Fielding, and neighbor Alice West with helping to turn things around.

Once he gets his GED, Clark plans to study diesel mechanics at Lincoln Technical Institute - a national vocational school - and learn to drive trucks.

"She (West) helped me to get enrolled, and provided transportation back and forth for me. I'm blessed to have her in my life," Clark said. "There's been times when I thought, 'Man, I ain't gonna be able to do this,' and Chris has kept me going."

Whether they're youth or adults, Bridge Academy students can take advantage of curriculum tailored to their career goals, which they complete at their own pace, Fielding said.

New students are evaluated "to see what we need to focus on so they don't have to sit through a class all day long to learn stuff they already know," Elders said.

"It's not, 'Here's a canned curriculum, and I've been teaching this for 30 years,'" Fielding said. "It's all about them. You start where you need to start, and we're here to help you, any time we need it."

For young people who qualify, that may mean additional "wraparound" services - such as child care, housing and nutrition.

For adults, it means personalized attention, and the chance to study at no cost- including the five tests required to get a GED.

"That emotional support, that psychological support, can fuel the positive attitude that is required for anybody to learn," Elders said.

However, students are held accountable when they skip classes or don't make good on their individual goals, Fielding said.

To make sure that nobody misses the message, he's been known to call, talk to parents, or fire off instant messages when he sees an absentee student on Facebook.

"You just can't wander back in here and expect that we're not going to notice that you weren't here," Fielding said. "We know you're not here, and we will find you."

The public will get its first extended look at Bridge Academy during an open house, 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 777 Riverview Drive.

From Fielding's standpoint, the results speak for themselves. Since the academy started, 60 students have gotten GEDs, while an additional 19 have gained jobs with employers like Greenspan Construction, McDonalds, Meijer and Shelton, he said.

"They're keeping the jobs, and that's the most important thing. We're making sure they have the basic skills before they leave here," Fielding said.

For example, Le'Darrien Thompson, 16, and his 18-year-old brother, Lemuel, are working for Greenspan. They're helping remodel a house at 726 Madison in Benton Harbor.

Le'Darrien, who came up from Louisiana, said poor attendance hurt him in regular school.

He's since completed CPR, first aid and OSHA certifications, and - once he gets his GED - will attend Southwestern Michigan College to become a computer technician. His long-term goal is to open his own shop.

Asked what he gets out of the academy, Le'Derrien responded: "A new attitude, for sure. I've become a better person. I like people now. I used to be a quiet person, didn't like to talk a lot."

Whatever happens next, Fielding said the academy won't sit still. Through conversations with students, major changes have already been made in its curriculum, online learning content and scheduling, to name three examples, he said.

"We wanted a soft start. We didn't want this to go from zero to 200," Fielding said. "We're not so naive to think we know it all. At the end of the day, we learned just as much from them, as they did from us."