Alethia Ussher joins the Building Bridges team as Special Education Coordinator. She is a wonderful addition to the state accredited Bridges Academy that the students attend on campus at the beginning of their stay at the program. This is the education piece that prepares the boys to eventually attend Thompson Falls High School, bringing real life to treatment.

Alethia’s most recent position before coming to Building Bridges was the Special Education Director at a Therapeutic Boarding School. After obtaining her Psychology degree in 1995, she worked with kids in both the public and therapeutic setting. It was after working in law enforcement for seven years that Alethia decided to pursue a career in education. She has worked in Education since 2003. Her roles have included paraprofessional, teacher and Naturalist, teaching students with different needs across a large spectrum. Her 7 years at an Outdoor Education School included ropes course facilitation and teaching gold rush history and science programs to students from 4th grade through high school. Supporting kids to challenge themselves beyond their comforts became another passion for her, which led to being a volunteer camp leader facilitating team building initiatives and rock climbing/rappel excursions.

Aletha lives in North Idaho with her husband and daughter. Her family relocated there from California 8 years ago and love the abundance of outdoor activities. Alethia is active in the community by coaching high school cross country.

Sarah Fairbank, Academic Director and Owner, has her Master’s in Education, and Andy Burwig, Academic Coordinator, have previously coordinated the IEP needs of every student and accommodations for students who require special attention have been supported through Alta Independent and the public high school. Now there will be another person to help oversee and follow the students through their time at the high school.

Building Bridges is a Therapeutic Boarding School in Thompson Falls, MT for boys 14-18 with substance and behavioral issues. The passion is creating a structure that mirrors real life with the goal to have the boys attend public school.  Building Bridges seeks to bring real life to treatment through redirection and empowerment. They strive to teach the young men to see how substance has created behaviors that have gotten in their way of pursing their passions. By teaching them how to have self-confidence and create a more positive manner they are able to see their growth through using what they learn in a normalized safe environment that will transfer to wherever their next step is.