Portland Educator Rewriting Rules For Neurodivergent Students During Women’s History Month – KXL

PORTLAND, OR – Beven Byrnes, a Portland native, mother of four, educator, artist, and community activist, is trying to reshape education for students with learning differences. As Executive Director and Principal of Bridges Middle School, described as Oregon’s only middle school specifically designed for neurodivergent learners, Byrnes says she hopes to turn the school into a national model for inclusive, personalized education for students with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and dyslexia.

Byrnes’ path to education has not been conventional. She was raised in Portland by two mothers who, she says, emphasized creativity, activism, and community service. She says further refined those core values at Portland State University and the Institute for Nonprofit Management.

“It’s about safety, transformation and seeing students grow into incredible adults,” Byrnes says. She describes her approach at Bridges as combining individualized learning plans, social-emotional support, and executive functioning skills with core academics, all delivered in small classes led by trained staff who understand neurodiversity.

Bridges Middle School is located in Portland’s Northwest neighborhood and serves students who have struggled in traditional classrooms. Rather than expecting students to adapt to rigid structures, Byrnes says her school adapts to each learner, recognizing differences as strengths to cultivate rather than deficits to fix. Students gain confidence, self-advocacy, and a sense of belonging alongside academic growth.

This Women’s History Month, Bridges wants to highlight how inclusive education can unlock potential — particularly for girls who might be overlooked in standard classrooms by emphasizing culture as much as curriculum, creating a safe and empowering environment for all learners.