Every great story has a hero’s journey — and for Zach Zeutzius, that story begins right here at Bridges Middle School. Once a Bridges student learning to embrace his differences, Zach now helps the next generation feel seen, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are. His life reads like a full-circle screenplay about compassion, growth, and the power of belonging.
Act One: Setting the Scene
Born at St. Vincent’s Hospital and raised in Beaverton, Zach still calls the Portland metro area home. He credits his parents for being his strong, supportive, and loving foundation. “My parents are incredible!” he beams. “They have always gone above and beyond to make sure my brother and I are okay. They’re the kind of parents I try to be, and the kind of paraeducator I strive to be.”
Growing up, Zach’s “multipurpose mom” worked from home while his dad built a career as a sales engineer at Intel. His younger brother, Ryan, is two years his junior. Both attended Bethany Elementary.
Elementary school wasn’t easy for Zach. “I was bullied and excluded because of my ADHD and autism,” he says. “I cushioned the trauma by spending many hours daydreaming stories.” Finding Bridges changed everything.
Act Two: The Inciting Incident
Through a counselor named David Willis, Zach and his parents were introduced to Bridges (then Gately Academy). Initially reluctant, he viewed attending a special-needs school as a confirmation of his differences. “I did a shadow day, but I didn’t want to be there,” he recalls. “I just wanted to stay at my current school and find some way to belong and fit in with the other kids.”
“Until I came to Bridges, I had been so ashamed of being different. After coming to Bridges, I realized I could do everything everyone else could. I just needed to go about it differently.”
When Zach enrolled in 2010, everything clicked. For one of the first times in his life, he felt a sense of belonging. “At Bridges, my teachers and classmates accepted me for who I was,” he smiles. “There was this amazing sense of community, and I felt like I truly belonged.”
Favorite memories include science class with Miss Sams, who “made me feel like an individual she wanted to help,” and the lasting friendships that came from being his authentic self.
Act Three: Character Development
Zach went on to attend high school where he faced new challenges, including personal loss and re-experiencing bullying.
“There was a popular classmate who lacked compassion for others,” he remembers. “The whole experience served as a great growth opportunity for me. It made me realize I wanted to be a counterbalance to cruelty and make others feel loved and safe.”
After graduation, Zach worked at various jobs but none felt fulfilling. Then a Mr. Rogers Documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, changed everything.
“It hit me,” he says. “I needed to help kids and make a positive impact, just like my teachers at Bridges did for me.”
He began volunteering in the Beaverton School District, eventually becoming a paraeducator. He worked across 20 schools, finding meaning in small, compassionate moments with students.
“Every day I drove home feeling like I did something that mattered.”
Act Four: The Hero Returns
In 2022, Bridges’ Executive Director Beven Byrnes invited Zach to return, this time as a staff member. “It felt like the happy ending in a movie,” he says. “Returning to Bridges felt like the culmination of a long journey, and I had reached the place I was always meant to be!”
After two years at Bridges, Zach took a year off to study filmmaking at Portland Community College where he’s maintained a 4.0 GPA. Now he’s back at Bridges, continuing to study filmmaking part-time and giving back to the school that changed his life.
Zach’s goal at Bridges is simple yet powerful: “I want every kid to know I’m in their corner. Whether it’s a high-five, a conversation, or helping with an assignment, I want them to know they’re seen, cared for, and they belong.”
One of his favorite memories from his first stint at Bridges was bringing Brian Michael Bendis from Marvel and DC Comics to meet the students. “Even the adults were entertained!” he says. “It was incredible seeing our kids light up and to experience that moment of shared inspiration.”
Behind the Scenes
When he’s not at Bridges, Zach can be found attending concerts, collecting signed Funko POPs, or writing screenplays. He’s a huge Blink-182 fan — in fact, it was in the pit at a Blink-182 concert where he met his fiancée Lizzie. “Lizzie has the most radiant heart,” he shares. “She is funny and creative. She is the most thoughtful person I know!”
After keeping in touch as penpals during his five-week backpacking trip across Europe, the two reunited. He recently proposed in the pit at another Blink-182 concert. Lizzie has two young children: Natalie and Monte. “Every time I think about how much I love them, I cry,” he says. “They are my heart.”
Zach and Lizzie are expecting a baby in May of 2026 and plan on getting married the following year.
The Sequel: Coming Soon
Alongside his work at Bridges, Zach has his sights set on becoming a screenwriter and director. His first short film is complete, and he’s now developing his first feature-length script — a story about kindness in a world that often forgets it.
“My film is about how it’s only a cruel world if we make it that way,” he says. “Every choice we make can either pull us toward the light or further into the darkness.”
Zach’s philosophy of empathy, patience, and positivity shines through every part of his life. Whether he’s helping a student through a tough day or crafting a story that reminds us to choose kindness, Zach continues to bring light. Both to Bridges and beyond.