Our History
Iroko Bridge Academy is a private vocational school located in the Ruston/Tacoma area. The name is inspired by the Iroko tree—renowned for its strength, resilience, and enduring presence. This symbolism reflects both the perseverance of our students and our unwavering commitment to cultivating an inclusive, empowering, and high-quality learning environment.
Ms. Ekaette Amanda Angell, RN, is the founder and lead instructor of Iroko Bridge Academy. She holds a degree in Accounting from Rivers State University of Science and Technology in Port Harcourt. Driven by a deep desire to care for the sick, she later pursued a degree in Nursing at Miami Dade College in Florida. Ms. Angell went on to build an impressive clinical career, serving as a Cardiac Intensive Care Nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and in the Heart Transplant Unit at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida.
Ms. Angell is a certified instructor with both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross (ARC). She has trained a wide range of professionals in Emergency Response, as well as in Stress Management and Work-Life Balance. Her instructional expertise includes teaching AHA and ARC courses such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS/ALS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and First Aid and CPR with Automated External Defibrillator (AED) usage. In addition to her teaching, Ms. Angell has participated in numerous international humanitarian missions and charitable relief efforts.
Our Mission
At Iroko Bridge Academy, our mission is to provide transformative education that empowers individuals to excel in healthcare and beyond. We cultivate skilled, compassionate professionals through innovative training rooted in regulatory excellence, cultural competence, and lifelong learning. By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, we prepare our students to thrive in diverse roles while upholding the highest standards of service, ethics, and humanity
Our Vision
We envision a future where every student who walks through our doors becomes a competent, values-driven professional who improves lives, strengthens communities, and sets new benchmarks for excellence in care and service. Our goals is to be a national respected hub for career preparation, educational innovation and human-centered learning.
“Iroko Bridge crosses you over to a brighter future”
Why Choose Iroko Bridge Academy?
Hands-on learning
Iroko Bridge Academy emphasizes hands-on learning in our Skills Lab. Our focus on hands-on learning allows students to apply what thye learn in the classroom to real-life patient care and emergency response scenarios to build their confidence and competence.
Seasoned healthcare professionals
Our instructors are seasoned healthcare professionals with real-world experience who are dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of healthcare providers. We teach both the technical “hard skills” and the “soft skills” that are critical to success in the healthcare field, including empathy, critical thinking and communication.
Foundational knowledge and experience
Our programs provide the foundational knowledge and experience that will make students successful upon program completion. We offer additional support services to help students succeed including clinical labs, skills testing practice sessions, and a supportive learning environment.
Iroko Bridge Academy is conveniently located in the North Tacoma area. We have ample parking and are in close proximity to public transit.
Our Values
At Iroko Bridge Academy, we believe that caring for others is one of the most rewarding callings.
Compassion
Compassion and empathy are essential to meaningful education and effective patient-centered care
Excellence
We uphold high standards in training, compliance, and student outcomes
Inclusion
We foster a culture that values every student
Innovation
We integrate cutting-edge tools such as simulation labs, virtual reality, and AI-assisted learning platforms
Accountability
We teach responsibility for actions and adherence to healthcare regulations
Cultural Competence
We emphasis that our students understand and respect diverse backgrounds and beliefs
Accreditation
Iroko Bridge Academy is licensed to operate as a private vocational school by the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTB).
Nursing Assistant training programs offered at Iroko Bridge Academy are licensed by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) and are compliant with Federal OBRA regulations.
