MS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SENIOR AMERICA 2015, WENDY DENISE BRIDGES

CONGRATULATIONS to WENDY DENISE BRIDGES, Ms District of Columbia Senior America 2015!

Wendy D. Bridges is a proud native Washingtonian, born at Freedman’s Hospital in 1953. She was educated in the District of Columbia Public Schools System. She graduated from Cardozo High School and received a full scholarship from Tau Gamma Delta Sorority to attend DC Teachers College. Wendy earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. She then received her Master of Arts Degree in Reading Specialization from the University of the District of Columbia where she was Pres. of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.

Wendy's first employment opportunity, at age fourteen, was with PRIDE, Inc. under the supervision of the late Mayor Marion Barry. She also became an intricate part of the Mayor Barry’s Youth Leadership Program (MBYLI) as a summer employment counselor. Wendy’s teaching career began as a primary instructor at the Kiddies Kollege Nursery School. After one year, she went into the private sector work force for more experience. By 1986, after receiving her Master of Arts degree, she became a full time kindergarten instructor with the DC Public Schools System. She taught at Shepherd Elem. School, and later, served as a reading resource instructor at Langdon Education Campus. In this position, she nurtured, directed and guided students’ K-8th grades who enjoyed learning and were able to read, think, reason and problem solve to the utmost of their abilities.

Before retiring in 2013, Wendy received various awards, participated in school workshops, and presented at conferences. She has volunteered to tutor children in her neighborhood in reading and speaking, assisted in colleagues’ classrooms, gone on field trips with students, and assisted with serving dinners during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons at SOME and at the Central Union Mission. She also implemented a senior computer workshop at the Lamond Recreation Center in Washington DC.