Staff
Katie Barr McCurdy M. Ed. Executive Director
Contact Information: (541) 335-1100 kbarr@mccurdyed.org
Katie Barr McCurdy is the Executive Director of the Patrick McCurdy Education (PMEF), which she founded in 2004 following the tragic death of her husband, Patrick McCurdy and their daughter, Olivia. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of PMEF, Katie was a teacher for 10 years in the public school systems in California and Oregon. She primarily worked with at-risk youth and non-traditional students. Katie has built Reaching Out Mentoring from a small program with 12 students to a viable answer to working with rural, at-risk youth in Lane County. Currently, Reaching Out Mentoring has 150 students involved in the program and four Mentor Centers located in the Pleasant Hill and South Lane school districts. Katie has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and a Public School Administrative License.
William Charles (WC) Harbert Program Manager
Contact Information: (541) 736-0715 wcharbert@mccurdyed.org
W.C. Harbert has been on the Reaching Out Mentoring staff for three years. W.C. has his bachelor’s degree in communications from Pacific Lutheran University. He spent the last two years developing our high school mentoring program and working with other staff to get our Buddy Program launched. WC became our Program Manager in 2009. In his spare time, he coaches the Pleasant Hill Varsity Boys Basketball Team and mentors them as well! GO BILLIES!!!
Susie Rexius Elementary School Mentor Coordinator, Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Contact Information: (541) 736-0495 srexius@mccurdyed.org
Susie Rexius was raised in Eugene. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree and earned her master’s in social work from Portland State University. After earning her degrees, Susie became a full time mom and at the same time participated in numerous volunteer activities serving children and teens. In fall 2008 Susie was hired as the Mentor Supervisor at Trent Elementary, a school with many wonderful memories—and friends—from the years her children went to school there. Currently, Susie works with our younger population of students at Pleasant Hill Elementary School and coordinates the Buddy Program with our Program Manager, WC. Susie and her husband, Rusty, live in the Pleasant Hill area and are committed to doing all they can to invest in and serve the local community and Pleasant Hill School District.
Sherry Bryson Family Coordinator, Pleasant Hill Schools
Contact Information: (541)736-0493 sbryson@mccurdyed.org
Sherry Bryson was raised in Pleasant Hill and graduated from Pleasant Hill High School. She then graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After earning her degree, she worked with youth as a Behavioral Support Specialist and within Pleasant Hill School District. While taking time to raise her children she volunteered within her children’s classrooms and school. She and her husband are raising four boys; three that are attending Pleasant Hill schools and Sherry is enjoying her time back in the district she grew up in. Sherry and her husband, Matt, are committed to the education and well being of families and students in the community and the Pleasant Hill School District.
Marc Bass High School Mentor Coordinator, Cottage Grove High School
Contact Information: (541)942-3391 mbass@mccurdyed.org
Marc joined us from the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce where he served as Executive Director for the past two years. While there, he worked with local businesses to attract new industries and expand existing businesses. He is a retired United States Air Force officer and Iraqi War veteran. While in the Air Force, he commanded an expeditionary squadron and was stationed worldwide. He brings a wealth of experience in working with teens and young adults. Marc was an early volunteer with the Reaching Out Mentoring Program at Lincoln Middle School and valued that experience so much he wanted to work with high school students full time.
He’s married, has five children and has been a lifelong volunteer with kids organizations especially in sports and leadership activities. His wife, Lori, also works for the mentor program and together they are raising their school age daughters and llamas (on the their farm).
Lori Bass Middle School Mentor Coordinator, Lincoln Middle School, Cottage Grove
Contact Information: (541)767-5965 lbass@mccurdyed.org
Lori is the Middle School Mentor Coordinator at Lincoln Middle School in Cottage Grove. She moved to Cottage Grove with her husband Marc and their two daughters after retiring from the Air Force in 2007. Her passion for working with kids began early in her military career as a member of the Young Heroes Program honoring the courage of children with disabilities or terminal illness who are part of the military family. Lori has a long history of community service experience and was one of the Reaching Out Mentoring Program’s first Cottage Grove mentors. She is currently a member of the Cottage Grove Rotary and is on the board of the Family Relief Nursery of Cottage Grove.
