Most people who meet Bob Lehman would never guess what he has been through to get where he is.

In this episode, Sarah and James sit down with Bob, a pastor who was born and raised in South Phoenix. On paper he had a good childhood but there was a lot underneath the surface that most people never knew about. He talks about getting bullied as a kid and how that pain actually became the thing that pushed him into track and field, all the way to a full scholarship at Northern Arizona University.

Then his brother died and everything changed. Bob is honest about that loss and how long it took to work through the grief. It was in that season that he found faith, met his wife and started down a path he never saw coming: decades of ministry, planting churches, pastoring and teaching the next generation of kids and young leaders.

There is a moment in this conversation where Bob talks about looking someone in the eye and saying I see you. Not the mistakes, not the goofy stuff, just the person and their heart. That idea sits at the center of everything he shares here.

If you have been through a hard season or you are walking with someone who is, this one is worth your time.

You can sign up for Bob's weekly encouragement here: https://bobandjanet.org/

Learn more about Missions Door: https://www.missionsdoor.org/

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, anytime.

Elevated Education is committed to providing students with hope, opportunity, and support to re-engage in their education and pursue their dreams.

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Today on the Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with Jill and Nancy, the Principal and Vice Principal leading Eastpointe High School's East Tucson campus. What started as two people stepping into roles neither of them originally wanted has turned into one of the biggest turnarounds in the network.

This conversation with Jill and Nancy is about what happens when you stop managing behavior and start building relationships.

Not the easy fixes. Not the quick wins. The kind of change that takes twelve hour days, resistance from kids who don't trust you yet and a willingness to stay consistent long enough for it to actually work.

Jill and Nancy break down what the first few months looked like at Eastpointe, why so many of their students come in carrying things no classroom curriculum can fix and how they built a culture where kids feel safe enough to grow. From restorative practices that actually teach something instead of just punishing to watching a student who once sat in the hot seat turn around and help another kid through their own conflict, this episode is full of the kind of moments that don't show up on a report card but change everything.

If you are an educator, an administrator or someone who believes school can be more than a building kids are required to sit in, this is a conversation you need to hear.

The truth is simple. Enrollment doubled in four months. But talk to Jill and Nancy for five minutes and you will understand it was never really about the numbers.

This episode will challenge how you think about structure, trust and what it actually takes to turn a school around.

Resources mentioned in this episode: Eastpointe High School: www.eastpointehs.com

#EastpointeHighSchool #AlternativeEducation #Tucson #AtRiskStudents #SchoolLeadership #RestorativePractices #ElevatedEducation #ElevatedHope #StudentSuccess #EducationPodcast #SchoolTurnaround #Arizona #CommunityAction #SafeSchools #Mentorship

Elevated Education is committed to providing students with hope, opportunity, and support to re-engage in their education and pursue their dreams.

Connect with us on social media: Facebook: /elevatedteens Instagram: /elevatedteens LinkedIn: /elevated-education-for-teens TikTok: /elevatedteens

Today on the Elevated Hope Project, we are honored to share the story of Dr. Kelly Burns, Superintendent of the Yavapai County Accommodation District and one of Arizona's most passionate advocates in the fight against human trafficking. What started as a routine professional development day turned into a mission she has not stopped fighting for since.

This conversation with Dr. Kelly Burns is about what happens when you stop looking away.

Not the comfortable conversations. Not the easy topics. The ones that make you shift in your seat, look around the room differently and realize the threat is closer than you ever imagined.

Dr. Kelly breaks down what human trafficking actually looks like in schools, in rural communities, in hotels and on social media. She talks about how educators, parents and everyday citizens can recognize the warning signs, what to do when something feels off and why staying silent is never the safe option. From identifying victims in her own school to witnessing trafficking firsthand at a hotel in St. Louis, this episode is a wake-up call.

If you are a parent, a teacher, a school administrator or simply someone who cares about protecting kids, this is a conversation you need to hear.

The truth is simple. It is happening in your community. The only question is whether you are going to be the one who sees it.

This episode will challenge how you think about safety, awareness and what it means to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Resources mentioned in this episode: Project Starfish: www.projectstarfish.education National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

#humantrafficking #childprotection #education #awareness #schoolleadership #antitraficking #stophumantrafficking #elevatededucation #elevatedhope #resilience #communityaction #parentingtips #safeschools #yavapai #arizona Elevated Education is committed to providing students with hope, opportunity, and support to re-engage in their education and pursue their dreams.

Connect with us on social media:

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Today on the Elevated Hope Project, we are honored to share DOC Ivory's remarkable story. Once a promising athlete with dreams beyond his neighborhood, DOC found himself on an unexpected path that led him from the streets of Chicago to the front lines of combat. What followed was not a story of perfect victories, but a lifelong commitment to rising, serving, and refusing to quit.

This conversation with DOC Ivory is about what happens when life asks more of you than you think you can give. Not the decorated moments. Not the accolades. The moments where you carry war, loss, and struggle all at once and still choose to keep going.

DOC breaks down what it really means to serve, in uniform, as a father, as an author, and as a man who refuses to let his pain be wasted. He talks about identity, purpose, and what it looks like to turn every hardship into fuel for the next generation. From combat medic to Purple Heart recipient to building an entire ecosystem of impact, this episode is about what true resilience looks like in real life.

If you are a student, a veteran, or someone who has ever felt like the odds were stacked against you, this is a conversation you need to hear.

The truth is simple. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep climbing.

This episode will challenge how you think about service, strength, and what it means to build something bigger than yourself.

Elevated Education is committed to providing students with hope, opportunity, and support to re-engage in their education and pursue their dreams.

This conversation with David Huff is about what happens when things don't go your way.

Not the highlight moments. Not the wins. The moments where you fail, lose confidence, and start questioning everything.

David breaks down the reality of competing at a high level, where talent alone is never enough. He talks about pressure, identity, and what it actually takes to keep going when most people would quit. From learning how to move on to the next play, to understanding that failure is often the signal that something needs to change, this episode is about building real mental toughness.

If you are an athlete, a competitor, or someone working toward something that actually matters, this is a conversation you need to hear.

The truth is simple. The only regret you will have is quitting.

This episode will challenge how you think about failure, discipline, and what it means to stay in the game.

#mindset #mentaltoughness #baseball #leadership #discipline

Elevated Education is committed to providing students with hope, opportunity, and support to re-engage in their education and pursue their dreams.

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook: / elevatedteens

Instagram: / elevatedteens

LinkedIn: / elevated-education-for-teens

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Kylene, better known as "Cupid," joins The Elevated Hope Project to share a story that is equal parts raw and relentlessly hopeful. From growing up in a chaotic home environment to battling chronic health conditions, severe depression, and the constant pressure of simply getting through the day, Cupid explains what it felt like to live in survival mode while still trying to stay in school and keep working.

This episode highlights the turning point, her move to East Point High School, where flexibility, structure, and a mentor who truly met her where she was helped her rebuild momentum. You will hear how she managed work, health appointments, and credits, what it took to finish multiple courses in a short window, and why compassion and community are not extras, they are the difference.

Cupid also shares what she would tell her 12-year-old self, why advocacy matters in education and healthcare, and how she is now building a future at the University of Arizona with a clear mission: become a general practice PA who listens, believes patients, and helps change the course of someone's life early.

What does it actually mean for a student to be "ready" for the future?

In this episode of the Elevated Education Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gress, Arizona State Representative and Chair of the House Education Committee, for a candid and deeply personal conversation about education, accountability, and what our systems are truly preparing students for.

Matt shares his journey from growing up in a single-wide trailer in rural Oklahoma to becoming a teacher, budget director, and state education leader. Drawing from firsthand experience in the classroom, public policy, and mentorship, he challenges conventional definitions of readiness and calls out the gaps between spending, outcomes, and accountability in K–12 education.

This episode explores why proficiency matters, why kids must come before adults, the long-term impact of COVID-era decisions, and the critical role of caring adults, mentors, and human connection in re-engaging disconnected students. From literacy and chronic absenteeism to alternative education and real accountability, this conversation cuts through the noise to focus on what actually helps students succeed.

If you care about education that works, leadership that listens, and preparing students for real life, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

What does it actually mean for a student to be "ready" for the future?

In this episode of the Elevated Education Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gress, Arizona State Representative and Chair of the House Education Committee, for a candid and deeply personal conversation about education, accountability, and what our systems are truly preparing students for.

Matt shares his journey from growing up in a single-wide trailer in rural Oklahoma to becoming a teacher, budget director, and state education leader. Drawing from firsthand experience in the classroom, public policy, and mentorship, he challenges conventional definitions of readiness and calls out the gaps between spending, outcomes, and accountability in K–12 education.

This episode explores why proficiency matters, why kids must come before adults, the long-term impact of COVID-era decisions, and the critical role of caring adults, mentors, and human connection in re-engaging disconnected students. From literacy and chronic absenteeism to alternative education and real accountability, this conversation cuts through the noise to focus on what actually helps students succeed.

If you care about education that works, leadership that listens, and preparing students for real life, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

What do you do when the dream you built your whole identity around gets taken away?

In this episode of the Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with RaSean McMiller, a former high-level basketball recruit who had to make a hard pivot after injury and setbacks changed his path. Instead of isolating, RaSean chose action. That decision started with something simple, selling socks at 17, and turned into a whole new mindset: solve problems, add value, and keep moving.

RaSean shares how he went from growing up outside Chicago with big NBA dreams to launching a hair care brand (inspired by his grandmother, Eula) and getting it into beauty supply stores. Then he takes us into his newest venture, Flash Path, a golf swing training aid built to give beginners immediate feedback while saving time and money. Along the way, he breaks down what he learned from bootstrapping, building a team, using mentors, and putting himself in rooms that force him to grow.

If you are a student, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone trying to recover after life forces a pivot, this conversation will hit you right where you are.

Key themes: resilience, discipline, mentorship, momentum, entrepreneurship, and turning setbacks into purpose.

Today on The Elevated Hope Project, we are honored to share Mayson's remarkable journey. A graduate of Accelerated Learning Center in Phoenix, Mayson has lived through more loss in her young life than many face in a lifetime. Yet through every hardship, she remained grounded, compassionate, and determined to move forward.

In this candid conversation, Mayson reflects on her upbringing, the challenges her family faced, the heartbreak of losing her sister and later her mother, and how ALC became a safe place to heal, grow, and rediscover her strength. Now working, building her own independence, and exploring her future, Mayson shares heartfelt advice for any young person dealing with grief: "Just look forward. Don't let your trauma define who you are or what your future holds."

This episode is a testament to resilience, supportive school communities, and the hope that can rise from even the most difficult seasons. We hope her story inspires you the way it inspired all of us.