Meet Our Staff: Barb

Meet Steelbridge’s longest-standing employee: Ms. Barb! Barb started at Steelbridge (what was then referred to as Albuquerque Rescue Mission) in August of 2010. She had spent months looking for a job after she had spent many years as an industrial technician and then 14 years as a professor at University.

She saw a job opening at Steelbridge and applied for a caseworker position, but was hired on instead as the learning center manager. Whether she thought she’d be in that position for a while or not, Barb has been teaching the residents at Steelbridge for 11 years now! Her current title is “lead instructor” and she teaches the men and women bible review, reading, writing, mathematics, word processing, and is currently working on developing a life skills program.

When asked why she has continued to work with Steelbridge all these years, she responded that

“It feels like [her] heavenly father keeps her supplied with spiritual super glue that keeps [her] here”

Barb absolutely loves all the students that come through Steelbridge and feels extremely blessed to be able to teach and mentor them, as well as receive feedback from them that allows her to stay in line with God’s vision for her life.

Barb plans on serving at Steelbridge “as long as the Good Lord wants her here”, and doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon. She also strongly believes in the Hand of God's timing and that he is in control of everything, including bringing her to Steelbridge all those years ago. Barb left me with some advice before our conversation drew to an end and it was this:

“We all need to practice following directions every day because if you can’t follow earthly directions, (picks up bible) good luck following the directions in here.”

We are so blessed to have had such an amazing mentor, teacher, and coworker, and pray the Good Lord doesn’t tell her to leave anytime soon!