For Bridges Middle School Board Member Bodo Heiliger, education has always been more than academics. It’s about creating spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and celebrated. His life story, from multilingual beginnings in Europe to leading the International School of Portland, reflects both resilience and a deep belief in the power of inclusive, child-centered education.
From Germany to New Jersey: Early Lessons in Learning
Born on the Swiss-French border in Southwest Germany, Bodo moved with his family to Luxembourg when he was just a year old. Despite being surrounded by four languages — German, French, English, and Luxembourgish — he didn’t begin speaking until age three. Doctors encouraged his parents to move him to a monolingual environment, so the family relocated to what he fondly calls “beautiful Allendale, New Jersey.”
“I grew up speaking English even though my parents were German,” Bodo recalls. At the time, the going research was that some kids couldn’t handle more than one language.”
Bodo’s early years weren’t without challenges. Diagnosed with a language acquisition disability, he was in special education through fourth grade. “It was a difficult experience for me as a kid,” he shares. “That’s partly why I’m so drawn to Bridges and its model of inclusion and making sure every kid is celebrated for who they are.” Recently, when he found his original IEP — typed on a typewriter, no less — it reminded him how far both he and education have come.
Despite these challenges, Bodo thrived. He became an Eagle Scout, a football team captain, and a musician, playing bass guitar and saxophone. “I loved doing everything!” he laughs.
Discovering Education by Accident
Bodo attended Colby College, a small, liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine. He majored in History and minored in Education and Social Justice. “I never wanted to be in education,” he admits. “I thought school was the worst place in the world. After taking an education course in college, I quickly realized I loved teaching. It’s fun hanging out with kids all day.”
The shift in perspective launched a lifelong passion of teaching and learning, especially in environments that prioritize curiosity, inquiry, and joy.
Teaching Across the Globe
After college, Bodo began a career that took him around the world. He taught in Germany, New Jersey, Washington, D.C, and received his Masters in School Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education. In Germany, he spent eight years at the Munich International School, where he taught second and fourth grade before moving into administration.
“In Germany, public education was very track-based,” he explains. “At age nine, students take a test that determines their educational path. The international baccalaureate model, by contrast, centers the child holistically — focusing on language, culture, and the joy of learning.”
His own experiences with language learning have shaped his beliefs as an educator. “I learned enough German to get by,” he says with a grin. “My college professor once told me, ‘You sound like a native German, but you sound really dumb.’ I told him I’d take my C-minus and be fine.”
It was in Germany that Bodo met his wife, Ann, a fellow teacher. They married and welcomed twins, Axel and Margo, thanks to Germany’s excellent healthcare system.
Moving Home
After eight years in Germany, Bodo and Ann decided to move to Oregon. “By the time our twins were toddlers, we wanted to move closer to family,” he recalls. “We packed up, left Germany, and moved in with my in-laws in Tigard for a while.”
Before the move, Bodo gave his school a full year’s notice, mindful of his administrative responsibilities as curriculum coordinator. “I wanted to give them lead time before bowing out,” he says. During that final year, he began looking for opportunities in Oregon.
As luck would have it, the International School of Portland, had an unexpected opening. “About a year before I arrived, the principal unexpectedly quit,” Bodo explains. “I applied for the principal position and was offered the job in January.”
This role became a pivotal step in his leadership journey, allowing him to combine his international education background with a local community he grew to love.
Discovering Bridges
“Once Bridges moved into their former location in Southwest Portland, Beven and I got to know each other really well when the Safe Rest Village near our schools was announced,” he recalls. “We spent many hours talking about how our schools could engage with this community and the neighborhood in meaningful ways.”
That collaboration resulted in him joining the Bridges Board in January of 2024.
“Bridges is an amazing institution that is supremely important,” he says. “It warms my heart knowing there’s a school like Bridges around for kids who need it.”
Leadership, Strategy, and Stewardship
Bodo brings deep experience in independent school governance, particularly around strategy, finance, and nonprofit leadership. “Nonprofit school boards are different from public school ones,” he explains. “Our job isn’t to choose curriculum, it’s to set long-term strategy and ensure financial sustainability. Our role is to support the school’s leadership and get out of their way so they can accomplish what needs to be done.”
Among his proudest contributions is helping the Bridges Board navigate a challenging HR period with transparency and supporting the strategic move to the new Slabtown campus. “That was a huge undertaking,” he notes. “Beven, Carrie, and Jennifer led the charge, but it was a collective decision that reflects the community’s deep belief in our mission.”
Looking ahead, Bodo is focused on board expansion, long-term facilities planning, and philanthropic growth. “Do we buy the building or continue leasing? That’s a major decision that will require someone focused on philanthropy to help fund that work,” he says. “Now that team transitions have stabilized, we can refocus on long-term goals, systems, and policies.”
Destination Playground
Outside of Bridges, Bodo serves on the Board of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools, supporting schools across eight states. He’s also a dedicated dad, often exploring Portland’s parks with his family.
“We’re a destination playground family,” he laughs. “We love to hang out and play.”
He’s also an unabashed education enthusiast. “Reading books on education is my joy. I’m a total dork in that regard.”
Making a Difference
One of Bodo’s proudest professional moments was publishing a case study on using LGBTQIA+ picture books in elementary classrooms — featured in Being a Teacher: A Book of Cases. His work has reached far beyond his own school: professors in South Africa now use it to train new educators on creating inclusive learning spaces in countries where homosexuality has recently been legally recognized.
“It’s one of the things I’m most proud of,” he shares. “It shows how teachers can create safe, curious spaces for all kids — even in challenging environments.”
“Education is fun, and there’s always a way to make it better than I had it,” he adds. “The environment is the third teacher. It shapes how we learn and who we become. Bridges embodies that idea every day.”
