Bridge Builder Academy

BBA Staff

ADMINISTRATION

Adam Brackin, Ph.D, Secondary (6-12) Principal / Secondary Curric. Director

Dr. Brackin is a Texas certified English and Art teacher with a Masters in Gifted Education. His Bachelor of Arts is in both English and Art, and he has taught for many years in both traditional public and private schools as well as various learning and tutorial centers.  He earned his Ph.D. in "Humanities: Aesthetic Studies" with a focus on Art and Technology at UT-Dallas, where he is currently teaching a class in Alternate Reality Games in the Emerging Media and Communication department. He is a published writer and the Writer/Creator of various ARGs in cooperation with Fundi Technologies. 

Lisa Brackin, B.B.S., Primary (K-5) Principal / Primary Curric. Director

Lisa has her Bachelor's in Behavioral Science with Texas Special Education Certification. For many years she has studied and taught in nearly every type of special classroom, and various alternative therapies and techniques such as "mileu style" teaching and play based, child-centered learning. She has specialized in Autism solutions and Early Childhood Language Intervention. Her specialized techniques and expertise cover both traditional and cutting-edge methodologies, and she is the creator of the BBA LIP program. Lisa is currently working towards a Graduate degree in brain sciences at UT-Dallas.

Bobby John, M.A., Administrative Director / Office Manager

Bobby earned his Masters in English and his bachelor's in education. He has worked as the principal and director of schools in both India and the U.S. He is an internationally certified teacher with many  years of practical administrative and classroom experience. Bobby is proudest of all of his family; especially his wife and three little girls!

Natalie Turner, B.S., Administrative Assistant / Receptionist

Natalie earned her BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University – Commerce. She holds her EC-4 Texas teaching certificate and has taught Pre-Kindergarten, First, and Second grade. Natalie has taught in public and private schools. She loves spending time with her family and enjoys her teacup Chihuahua Lilly and adopted cat Alice.

---

Maria Casey (ADMISSIONS COORDINATOR / TEACHER)
Maria earned her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.and her Bachelors in Human Services. She worked for five years teaching in a private school for children with learning disabilities here in Dallas. When her first son was born she temporarily left teaching, became a full time mother, started a creative home business and worked privately as a tutor. Maria joined BBA with a new found passion to help improve the quality of our educational system. Her experience is mainly with children diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, Asperger's and various Anxiety Disorders. Her teaching style comes from a combined counseling and educational framework; her approach is unique, patient and nurturing. Her hobbies are creative writing, enjoying music and curling up with popcorn and a blanket to watch a good scary movie! Originally from Boston, she has now lived in Dallas for 13 years. She shares her home with her husband, two wonderful sons and their many pets.

Teshia Bilecki, (BBA LEAD TEACHER / TEACHER)
Teshia has earned her MS in Biological Sciences from Texas A&M-Commerce. She has her teaching certificate in all levels of science and art. She has over two years of experience teaching including a private school for special needs children with learning disabilities. She has experience teaching children with ADD, ADHD, Asperger's, Bi-polar, ODD and Dyslexia. In Teshia's spare time, she enjoys creating art, traveling far far away, watching TV, and being with her family and numerous pets.

---

TEACHERS & STAFF

BBA HIRES ONLY THE BEST AND MOST QUALIFIED STATE CERTIFIED TEACHERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING ONE ON ONE WITH THEIR STUDENTS. MOST HAVE MULTIPLE CERTIFICATIONS AND SKILL AREAS, AND WE TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR GREAT EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION!

Vanessa Bailey (Elementary & Secondary Teacher)
Vanessa is currently working on her Masters degree in School Counseling at Amberton University. She has a Social Work degree from the University of North Texas, and is certified to teach special education K-12. She has taught special education for Dallas ISD, Killeen ISD, and Lewisville ISD. She has worked with students on the autism spectrum, students with behavioral challenges, and students with learning disabilities. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to church, and working on her masters degree. Also, she was just married this summer on June 14, 2008!

Rachel Dove (Elementary & LIP Teacher)
Rachel has a BA in International Relations from Webster University. She has worked with individuals with disabilities in home and in the public school setting for 6 years. She is pursuing a Master of Science at UNT with a focus on Behavior Analysis. Rachel and her husband have a talkative parrot named Ollie!

Kimberly Collins (Secondary Teacher)
Kimberly has her BA in Literary Studies from UT Dallas with secondary teacher certification in English/Language Arts. In addition, Kimberly has Advanced Placement training, gifted and talented training, and has extensive college hours in biology, music, and theater. She is currently working on her Master's in counseling at Texas A&M University in Commerce. Kimberly has taught 8th grade Language Arts, Creative Writing, and Journalism for several years in C/FB ISD, and also wrote Smart-Curriculum for the district. Kimberly is a devoted wife and mother to her husband and daughter. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, writing, singing, and watching documentaries and science fiction movies!

Judy Gordon (Elementary Teacher)
Welcome to BBA Judy! (Profile coming soon!)

Dr. Susan Matthews (Secondary Humanities Teacher)
Susan earned her MA in Germanic Languages and Literature and Linguistics, Graduate studies in English at South Florida University, and her D. Min. in Theology from the Graduate School of Theology and Oxford University (Christ Church). She has 35 years of experience teaching ESL, English Literature, Reading and German. She lived in Europe for 10 years, and has two feral cats named Zsa Zsa and Eva who adopted her family even though she claims "We are dog people!"

Nikki Newman (Secondary Spanish and Humanities Teacher)
Nikki Newman received her BA in Spanish as well as her BS in Psychology from Texas A&M University and has her Secondary Certification (6-12) in Spanish. She has 4 years of experience with Bilingual Education Programs on an elementary, middle school and high school level and has 2 years experience working with at-risk youth at the Bryan Adult Learning Center. In 2007 she worked as an ESL Teacher for Intermediate Youth and Advanced Adults. Nikki loves the arts in every facet including live music, theater, and dance. She also enjoys participating in outdoor sports such as kayaking, hiking and horseback riding. Her summers are spent working at a Christian Sports camp in the Ozark Mountains and she has a heart for teaching, coaching and mentoring youth.

Brandy Schultz (Elementary Teacher)
Brandy received her BS from the University of North Texas in 2000. She is certified to teach regular education grades 1-8 and special education grades PK-12. Brandy taught school for seven years for Plano ISD. During that time she gained experience working with students within the Autism spectrum, students with various learning disabilities, and students with behavioral issues. In her free time Brandy enjoys spending time with her husband and son as well as traveling whenever she gets a chance!

Bobbie Sparks (Secondary Math/Science Teacher)
Bobbie graduated from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin with her degree in Math and will complete her Masters in Cross-Cultural Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary in December. She has taught Junior High Math in the public school system, but has also taught in both Mexico and China. One of her dreams is to learn how to play 50 instruments and speak 7 languages!

Jodie Wyffels (Elementary Teacher)
Jodie holds a double Bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech University in Sociology and Family, Child Development. She received her Masters of Education, with a focus in Elementary Education, from Texas State University. Jodie is certified to teach ECE-4th and ESL. She has taught first and fourth grade in public school and has also taught in Ecuador and Mexico. Jodie has worked with children in a variety of education settings and is really excited to be part of Bridge Builder Academy because she truly believes in its philosophy. Jodie loves to take long walks, to travel, to garden, and spending time with her honey Adriano and their kitty Nesta.

Patricia Yost (Elementary & Secondary Teacher)
Patti has a BS degree in Science and Elementary Education from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.  She has taught for over 12 years and is currently working toward her Masters in Education with an emphasis in Reading and English as a Second Language at DBU. She enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters and working with children in various ministries at church.