Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire and empower all youth to have agency over their education and their lives.
We provide multi-faceted and culturally-appropriate resources and educational opportunities to ensure all East County students have the supports they need to complete high school.
Education Connection Specialists
Michelle Cardenas
Reynolds
More information coming soon.
Melissa Donnini
Centennial High School
More information coming soon.
Isabella McCarthy Zelaya
David Douglas
More information coming soon.
Erin McConaghy
Social Worker,
Centennial SD
Erin is passionate about working with students in creative ways & loves working in the Centennial School District. She enjoys going to the coast to surf, hanging around her neighborhood with her dog, and attempting to make new recipes in the kitchen.
erin_mcconaghy@csd28j.org
Call or text Erin at 503-572-5437
Gabriele Ross
Reconnecting/ Attendance Liaison, Parkrose SD
Gabriele brings more than three decades of working as an advocate for youth and families. She came to the US as a volunteer for Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, a German organization founded by survivors of the Nazi regime. In her free time, she paddles and peddles.
Juani Santiago
Connections Coordinator, Gresham-Barlow
Juani grew up in the Portland-Metro area but was born in Michoacan, Mexico. She speaks English, Spanish, and an Indigenous language called Purépecha, and is truly passionate about helping and working with our students and their families.
santiago39@gresham.k12.or.us
Call or text Juani at 971-220-2788
Sidonia Simpson
Senior Transition Specialist
Court and Referral Lead, MESD
Sidonia grew up in Salem, OR and graduated from Oregon State University. When she’s not working she is traveling, reading or trying to learn a new hobby.
ssimpson@mesd.k12.or.us
Call or text Sidonia at 503-389-3398
East County Bridges Advisory Group
Christine Otto
Project Director, MESD cotto@mesd.k12.or.us
Kealani Balfour
CTE Administrator, MESD abalfour@mesd.k12.or.us
Melissa Donnini
Reconnections Coordinator, Centennial SD Melissa_donnini@csd28j.org
Carla Gay
Director of Innovation & Partnerships,
Gresham Barlow SD
gay@gresham.k12.or.us
Nick Jensen
Hospital Programs Transition Specialist, MESD
njensen@mesd.k12.or.us
Erin McConaghy
Social Worker,
Centennial SD erin_mcconaghy@csd28j.org
Gabriele Ross
Reconnecting/ Attendance Liaison, Parkrose SD
rossgab@parkrose.k12.or.us
Sidonia Simpson
Senior Transition Specialist and Court and Referral Lead, MESD
ssimpson@mesd.k12.or.us
Representative from MESD’s Migrant Education Program – TBD
East County Bridges
A program of Multnomah Education Service District (MESD)
11611 NE Ainsworth Circle
Portland, OR 97220
EastCountyBridges@mesd.k12.or.us | 503-389-3398
East County Bridges prohibits discrimination and harassment on any basis protected by law, including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability or perceived disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, veterans’ status, parental or marital status or age.