A Michigan principal took a chance on a troubled foster teen three years ago when she was left with nowhere to go for Christmas, but her two-week stay didn’t go as planned when he realized she completed their family, and she was legally adopted.
Jeremy Wright, 49, was working as a principal in Plainwell, a small town about a half hour south of Grand Rapids, when he learned that one of his students, Bridgett, then 15, was being kicked out of her foster home.
Jeremy revealed in an interview with PEOPLE that Bridgett would have to be alone in an office building over the holiday, so he asked his wife, Jennifer, if they could take her in.
Initially, Jennifer said no because they already had two kids, and Bridgett had a difficult upbringing.
The Wrights told PEOPLE that Bridgett had addictions to marijuana and alcohol, and was kicked out of her last foster home for stealing $300.
Bridgett had been removed from her biological mother’s home when she was only eight years old.
Her biological mom had a drug addiction and was a sex worker. Bridgett and her brothers were separated and placed into the foster care system.
She had lived with 20 different foster families before her initial two-week stay with the Wrights.
Jeremy Wright, 49, was working as a high school principal in Michigan when he decided to host a foster teen for Christmas
Bridgett, 18, was struggling with addictions and mental health when she was kicked out of a foster home before Christmas
Even though she was initially set to stay for two weeks, the Wrights decided to take her in and she was adopted in 2024
Jennifer confessed that the first few days were difficult, as Bridgett continued to smoke, steal alcohol, and sneak out of their house.
Bridgett then opened up about the sexual abuse she endured, and the family decided to get her help with her mental health.
‘It was like how in all my years of teaching, 25 years of teaching, I’d never heard a story like that. It was just so horrible,’ Jeremy told People.
The Wrights checked Bridgett into a hospital in Wisconsin and said she came back calm and focused.
‘I knew that if we could get her to go and get some help and get on the right medicine and get on the right track, that we could help her,’ Jeremy said.
Bridgett continued to live with the couple and their two children, Jacob, 18, and Kaylee, 21.
She initially didn’t want to be adopted by the family, but eventually came around to being a Wright and was legally adopted in May 2024.
Since she came into the Wrights’ care, Bridgett went from barely passing her classes to getting all As and Bs, and joined the cheer team.
Jeremy and his wife, Jennifer, described Bridgett as a loving girl who completed their family
Bridgett said in an interview with People that she’s been ‘living my princess life’ since she was adopted by the Wrights
Bridgett told PEOPLE that it was difficult to describe the feeling of having a permanent family, but confessed that she’s ‘living my princess life.’
The couple said that it was a treat to watch Bridgett grow and that she completed their family.
‘Bridgett is fun, she’s feisty, she’s just a sweet girl. She’s got a really big heart and is loving,’ Jennifer told the publication.
Bridgett is a senior and will graduate from high school next year. Jeremy now serves as a superintendent.
