Executive Director and Head of School

English Language Arts Faculty

Erin Bernard (B.A. Journalism, M.A. History, M.A.T. English Grades 7-12) joined The Bridge Way School in February 2023. With an array of experience in secondary education, postsecondary learning, and public history, Erin is devoted to serving our city’s youth and addressing issues of urban crisis with the core values of love, action, resilience, and empathy. She is a seasoned teacher leader, grassroots humanities innovator, and trauma-informed educator who enjoys problem solving, building with communities, and service learning. Erin is a fierce advocate for people experiencing substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. She is an active scholar who problematizes how our education system can better mitigate barriers to attendance and engagement for alternative high school students in Philadelphia and beyond. Erin is thrilled to lead the Bridge Way team on a path of growth and possibility. Erin is a proud mom of three children engaged in Philadelphia’s public school system. She loves listening to vinyl records, gardening, and watching stand up comedy.

Humanities Lead

Social Studies Faculty

Aaron Cordell (B.S.Ed.) has been an educator since 2015 with a well-rounded experience in rural, suburban, and urban schools. Aaron moved to Philadelphia in 2018 and has taught in public, residential placement, and alternative school settings in and around the city. Since moving to Philadelphia, Aaron has found his passion in teaching the city’s underserved youth and prides himself on being able to build strong, meaningful, connections with his students. His educational experience is primarily in social studies, and he loves helping students get engaged in government and politics, as well as make connections between our nation’s past and issues we’re dealing with today - particularly through the lenses of historically disadvantaged communities. Aaron is so grateful for the opportunity to join the Bridge Way School in the Fall of 2023 as the Humanities Lead and is beyond excited to bring his experience and enthusiasm to such a promising program. Aaron currently resides in East Kensington with his fiancée, Hannah and their dog, Ruby.

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Unity Recovery

John Elburn joins The Bridge Way School as a peer specialist through a partnership with Unity Recovery. John’s recovery journey began in August 2016 at age 41. Having experienced homelessness and supportive housing along his path of recovery, John rediscovered his natural desire to help others. While living in recovery housing John earned his Peer Specialist certification and has been working in the field for several years with clients experiencing homelessness and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. John also completed his certificate as a credentialed Recovery Specialist in 2021.

His passion for recovery and helping others has inspired John to pursue an education in social work. Having completed an associate’s degree at Community College of Philadelphia as well as a certificate in recovery and transformation, it is John’s goal to obtain a master’s in social work. As a person with lived experience, John has compassion and empathy for other people on their journeys and is looking forward to offering support to Bridge Way students.

STEM Interventionist

Mathematics Faculty

Silas Nelson joined the Bridge Way School in the Fall of 2023 after working with the Big Picture Learning organization for 5 years. During this time, he has been dedicated to creating inquiry based learning in math that allows for students to really transfer the skills into real world skills. Silas has spent years in project based learning environments at alternative schools, finding ways to make education accessible and relevant to all students. He has a passion for working with any and all students, and is going to pursue his masters in Special Education starting in the fall of 2023. Bridge Way offers the perfect opportunity to support Philadelphia’s most vulnerable and important students, and ensure they have their own path to graduation and further success.

Resiliency Support and Administrative Specialist

Luis Rodriguez joins Bridge Way as the Administrative and Resilience Support Specialist. Luis grew up in the Frankford area of the city and is a proud product of the Philadelphia public schools. He is 2022 graduate of El Centro de Estudiantes. He will be assisting with the day to day operations of the school including student support. Luis likes to read, play video games, and spend time with friends and family. Luis is also continuing his education at Community College of Philadelphia in the evening to eventually fulfill his dream of becoming a High School English Teacher. He is excited to work with the students, staff, and families of The Bridge Way School

Recovery Artist-In-Residence

Fall 2023

William Hazard is a poet, musician, sound designer, and free software developer who lives in Philadelphia. He holds an MFA in poetry from Temple University, where he currently teaches. He is an editor at Overpass Books. His recent work can be found on GitHub.

English Language Arts Faculty

ELA & Spanish Virtual Learning Coach

Sydney Coffin got his first job teaching nursery school in 1993, earned his Masters degree in Secondary Education from the University of Pennsylvania in Secondary Education in 2000, taught in the School District of Philadelphia until December 2019, and over the years has represented Pennsylvania at Students For a Free Tibet (1996), the Yale National Initiative to strengthen teaching in high needs schools (2012-17), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Teacher Advisory Council (2016-17). He loves poetry and studied for an MFA with NYU in Paris from 2018-19 during a sabbatical year, and speaks Spanish, French & English.