S2E1 Why Kids Can’t Learn on Empty Feat. Tami Hance-Lehr

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Kids don’t show up to school as blank slates. They show up hungry, tired, caring for siblings, navigating trauma, or quietly carrying responsibilities most adults never see. In this episode of Home Means Podcast, host Heather Brown sits down with Tami Hance-Lehr, CEO of Communities In Schools of Nevada, to unpack what it really means for students to be “ready to learn.”

Tami explains why academic improvement cannot happen until basic needs are met and how Communities In Schools brings wraparound services directly onto school campuses across Nevada. From food and clothing to mental health care, transportation, and family support, this conversation highlights a model that removes barriers instead of blaming students.

They also talk candidly about leadership, empathy, and why asking for help is a skill, not a weakness, especially for women leading complex organizations.

This is a conversation about education, opportunity, and the Nevada way of opening doors so students can imagine, access, and move toward futures they may not yet know exist.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.