EPISODE 61: Removing Barriers: Inside the Teen Center at Deseret Peak High School

What happens when students have a place where they feel supported, seen, and ready to focus on learning?In this episode of Elevated Insights, Superintendent Dr. Mark Ernst records from Deseret Peak High School to spotlight the Teen Center and the people behind some of the district’s most meaningful student support services. Joined by Jennifer Firth, the district’s McKinney‑Vento Liaison; Kristine Naylor, Director of At‑Risk Students and Teen Centers; and Denise Martin, Teen Center aide at DPHS, the conversation explores how removing everyday barriers can completely change a student’s school experience.Listeners hear how access to resources like food, hygiene items, laundry, quiet study space, and trusted adults helps students feel confident, connected, and ready to learn. The episode also features a powerful student letter describing how the DPHS Teen Center helped her improve her grades, rebuild confidence, and find a place where she truly belongs.This is an uplifting, honest look at how schools, community partners, and the Tooele Education Foundation work together to support students not just academically, but socially and personally as well — and why these quiet supports matter more than most people realize.