Present and Engaged: A School’s Journey to Phone-Free Learning

Teacher Edition Podcast

“The best way to teach someone how to have helpful cell phone use is by first learning how to function without it .... They really will struggle to know how to be apart from it in a way that’s meaningful in any environment that they’re in.” – Cody Lehman

Most educators have experienced the struggle to keep students’ attention due to personal devices. But what happens when a school moves beyond managing the problem to actually solving it?

Cody Lehman, assistant principal at Hampton Park Christian School, shares their three-year journey implementing Yondr pouches – a phone-locking system that has transformed their school culture. This isn’t just another device management strategy; it’s a comprehensive approach to addressing what Cody calls “school loneliness” and the constant social pressures students face.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Rolling out the Yondr method in the classroom:

• How Yondr pouches work, and why they chose this solution over traditional collection methods
• The practical logistics of implementation and daily management
• Why the rollout gets easier each year as the culture shifts

How to get families’ and students’ buy-in:

• Strategies for communicating with resistant parents and students
• Why the initial two to four weeks of resistance quickly transforms into support
• How to address safety concerns and maintain parent-school communication

Changing the culture of the school:

• The dramatic increase in lunchroom noise levels (in a positive way)
• Improved classroom engagement and sustained discussion abilities
• Stronger teacher-student relationships without constant phone conflicts
• Students learning to be present with their peers

Cody addresses common concerns about liability, logistics, and enforcement while sharing real stories of student transformation. From the senior who initially said it would “ruin her year” to later calling it “the best decision,” the results speak for themselves.

Whether you’re considering a phone-free policy or looking for practical implementation strategies, this episode provides honest insights from a school that took the leap and found remarkable success in helping students be truly present.

Resources Mentioned:

• Yondr Pouches: https://www.overyondr.com/phone-locking-pouch

Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with Yondr; this is just one solution to this growing problem.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.

Go do what God has called you to do!

About Our Guest Cody Lehman has faithfully served at Hampton Park Christian School in Greenville, SC, for over a decade. He spent eight years as the athletic director and has served as assistant principal for the past four years. During his time at Hampton Park, he has enjoyed teaching psychology, sociology, and Bible doctrines, while remaining actively involved in coaching varsity athletics. Cody is passionate about people – God’s image bearers. His current role as assistant principal allows him to focus directly on that passion by striving to create a school culture where life can flourish, built on the core values of truth, love, and service. Cody and his wife, Sarah, have four children.

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