Team | Bridgeswork

The BridgesWork Team

Dr. Jan Morgan
Executive Director
and Co-Founder

Jan Morgan, a co-founder of BridgesWork, retired from public school administration in 2010 after 31 years of service. She served as a teacher, campus and central office administrator in Dallas, Irving, Coppell, and Bryan before retiring from Southlake Carroll ISD.

Dr. Morgan also served over 25 years as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas, and Concordia University.

The idea for BridgesWork came about as a result of a conversation Dr. Morgan had with a former Concordia graduate, Ms. Sharlyn Elliott, founder of Bridges Outreach of Denton County. The two joined forces in 2010 to ensure that a difference would be made in the lives of marginalized children in both Denton and Tarrant Counties. In 2012, Bridges Outreach of Denton County and BridgesWork became separate 501 (c) (3) entities. Both organizations continue to live out their dreams to ensure that the children whose lives they touch will know they are valued and loved and can succeed in today’s world.

Ms. Terri Iles
Board Consultant

Terri Iles is an educational consultant with 44 years of educational experience as a teacher, college tutor, Principal, Coordinator of Professional Development, and Quality Learning. She most recently retired as the Executive Director of Learning Forward Texas and now serves the organization as a Senior Consultant. Terri earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and has a master’s degree in educational administration from University of Texas Arlington. She taught multiple grade levels and programs in elementary school for 18 years before moving into the principalship and district administration. Terri’s love for children and learning and her commitment to the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District led her to service and work with the BridgesWork board of directors since its creation in 2012. In her spare time, she loves to travel and spend time with her four grandkids and 2 greats. Terri now serves our organization in an advisory and consulting capacity.

Dr. Larry Darlage
Board Treasurer

Larry Darlage received his B.A. degree from the University of Indianapolis in 1967. He obtained teaching and research fellowships at Iowa State University where he completed a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1971.

Following a two-year postdoctoral appointment at the University of Florida, he began his career in teaching and education at Pikeville College located in eastern Kentucky. In 1978, Larry moved to Dallas to help start up Brookhaven College. He served as Division Chair of Science and Mathematics and Vice-President of Instruction. In 1996, he was hired by Tarrant County College to serve as the president of the Northeast Campus in Hurst. He “retired” from TCC in 2014 and then served as principal of Crown of Life Lutheran School in Colleyville. He retired from Crown of Life in 2017.

In the community, Larry serves on numerous boards and committees, including BridgesWork (Treasurer), and the Metroport Rotary Club (President). He has been honored with outstanding leadership awards from the Colleyville, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, and the Northeast Tarrant Chambers of Commerce, as well as from the Northeast Leadership Forum. He is currently an elder at Crown of Life Lutheran Church.

He and his wife Mary Linn celebrated 56 years of marriage this past year. They reside in Southlake, Texas.

Mr. Thomas Hawthorne
Board Member

Thomas Hawthorne co-coordinates the BridgesWork young adult program with his wife, Amber. He is also Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ultara Holdings, Inc. whose principal subsidiary is Geoshack, North America's largest Independent dealer of GPS and machine control equipment. This professional role allows him to work with every department within the company to make operations more efficient and profitable. In his private time he uses his background in finance to assist where he can, and for many years he served as the chair of his church's finance committee. A lifelong United Methodist, Thomas currently attends Ash Lane UMC. He is one of those rare sports fans who roots for both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, since he went to OSU for undergrad and OU for graduate school. Thomas is also an Army veteran, having served in both the infantry and the 95th Division Army Band. He is an Escape Room aficionado, and he estimates that he has escaped (or almost escaped!) from more than 100. He is father to three humans, six chickens, and a cat.

Randy Morgan
Co-Founder

Randy Morgan, a BridgesWork co-founder, retired from public school education in 2010 after 37 years of service. Before retiring from Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, he served as a teacher, coach, and central office administrator in Round Rock, Eanes, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, and Coppell. Having a desire to give back to the community and his passion for making a difference in the lives of young people motivated him to join his wife in the development and implementation of BridgesWork.

One former student/athlete may have said it best: "Without Coach Morgan's belief in me, I wouldn't be where I am today." Coach "Mo" "continues" to work with public school districts in Texas as a consultant. He recently came out of retirement to complete projects in Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Midlothian ISDs.

Mr. Wes Hamilton
Board President

Wes is currently the Executive Vice President of Pinnacle Mergers and Acquisitions, a consulting company in the automotive industry. Prior to going to work for Pinnacle he spent 13 years in education as a teacher, coach and administrator. Wes was also a professional umpire in the minor leagues from 1993 to 2002 and a college umpire from 2004-2023 with the Big 12 and SEC. Wes enjoys spending time with his family; watching his son, Austin, play baseball; his daughter, Ally, play soccer; and traveling with, Carrie, his wife of 27 years.

Dr. Betty McIlvain

Board Vice-President

Dr. Betty McIlvain is an experienced North Texas and Oklahoma school and community leader whose career includes campus administrative roles in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Locally, she has served as Campus Principal at Durham Elementary (2003-2011) and as Campus Principal at Walnut Grove Elementary School, established in 2011 in Southlake, Texas.

A former adjunct professor of Higher Education at Oklahoma State University, Texas Woman’s University and Concordia University, Dr. McIlvain enjoys mentoring individuals who aspire to be effective campus leaders. Locally, she volunteers as a member of Metroport Rotary Club and Rotary International. Dr. McIlvain holds an Ed. D. Degree in Educational Administration from Oklahoma State University and has been honored with Oklahoma Outstanding Administrator of the Year, Texas Association of Gifted and Talented Advocate and Carroll ISD Community Service Awards.

When it comes to sports, during the month of college basketball tourney-time, known as March Madness, you can find this leader as an avid longtime fan of Kansas University, cheering for her beloved Jayhawks, even though the mascot is a unique bird of sorts!

Ms. Ann Jung
Board Secretary

Ann is a retired teacher who earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois. Following almost 20 years of classroom teaching, she remains committed to improving and investing in the lives of children. Volunteer roles include assisting with VBS, and various teams at her church in Colleyville, driving elderly residents for Serving Our Seniors, leading bible study, and being a grandparent. These activities fill many hours of her days.

Michelle & TJ Pepper
Assistant Executive Director Team

Michelle Pepper is currently a teacher with the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. She has served as a new teacher mentor, curriculum writer, and a professional development facilitator during her career. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&M University.

Involved in many volunteer opportunities at her church, she assists in the coordination of a Mobile Food Pantry initiative, accompanies youth on Mission Trips, works with both children and adult Sunday school programs, and can often be found helping others with Vacation Bible School.

Michelle served as a second grade teacher for our BridgesWork Summer and Saturday programs. In addition, she works alongside Thomas and Amber to mentor our post graduates by sponsoring university visits and social activities.

TJ Pepper has been managing new home construction throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area for 20 years. His previous career was in restaurant management in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Board for his church, having served as one of its members for a number of years. His servant's heart leads him to volunteer where ever he is needed, and he is particularly active in Mobile Food Pantry and BridgesWork initiatives.