The Elevated Hope Project

James Meehan
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The Elevated Hope Project, hosted by Elevated Education, is a podcast discovering the stories and journeys of the success stories from Elevated Educations' Arizona-based charter schools: EastPointe HighSchool, Elevated Academy, and Accelerated Learning Centers.

  1. há 4 dias

    Why the Best School Leaders Were Once Struggling Students: Jill and Nancy - EP 22

    Some of the best people to lead a school are the ones who once struggled inside of one. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jill Duncan and Nancy Aguinaga, the principal and vice principal at Eastpointe High School in Tucson, Arizona. They share the very different paths that led them into education and how their own experiences as students shaped the way they show up for teenagers every single day. Jill grew up in Connecticut and took the long road through her school years. She talks about the challenges she faced growing up, the teachers who became safe people when she needed them most and how that pulled her from social work into teaching and eventually into school leadership. Nancy moved constantly as a kid, including years living overseas and learned to find confidence in being the new person in every room. She spent years driving for UPS before one honest conversation redirected her entire career toward the classroom. Neither of them took a straight path and that is exactly why they understand the students who feel like they are falling behind. Together they open up about what it really takes to reach struggling teenagers, why they believe every kid is capable of more than they realize and how two very different leaders became one of the strongest teams either of them has ever had. This is a conversation about second chances, resilience and the reminder that where you are right now is just a moment in time, not the end of your story. If you are a student who feels like you do not fit, a teacher, or a parent walking alongside a kid who is struggling, this one is worth your time. #education #teachers #secondchances #students #resilience #mentorship #highschool #schoolleadership #elevatededucation #elevatedhope #tucson #arizona #teaching #hope #belonging 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

  2. 4 de ago.

    From Bullied Kid to Pastor: Bob Lehman on Faith, Loss and Purpose - EP 21

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

  3. 9 de jul.

    The Dynamic Duo: How Jill and Nancy Doubled Enrollment at Eastpointe - EP 20

    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

  4. 13 de jun.

    Hidden in Plain Sight: Dr. Kellie Burns on Human Trafficking - EP 19

    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: Facebook: / elevatedteens Instagram: / elevatedteens LinkedIn: / elevated-education-for-teens TikTok: / elevatedteens

  5. 26 de mai.

    Purple Heart to Purpose: DOC Ivory on Healing, Hustle, and Leaving a Legacy

    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.

  6. 9 de abr.

    Don't Quit: David Huff on Failure and Mental Toughness

    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 TikTok: / elevatedteens

  7. 30 de jan.

    The Real Meaning of "Ready" with Kylene Nosewicz

    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.

  8. 9 de jan.

    Education That Puts Kids First with Matt Gress

    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.

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The Elevated Hope Project, hosted by Elevated Education, is a podcast discovering the stories and journeys of the success stories from Elevated Educations' Arizona-based charter schools: EastPointe HighSchool, Elevated Academy, and Accelerated Learning Centers.

Informações

  • Criado por
    James Meehan
  • Anos de atividade
    2025 - 2026
  • Episódios
    22
  • Classificação
    Livre
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Site do podcast
    The Elevated Hope Project