…every student has their own set of issues.
How on earth are you supposed to help them all?
Administrators often come to me when they know something is broken.
If that’s you—you’re in the right place.
If your school is already in great shape?
I’ve got you covered, too.
Because even if your culture is good…
There are so many people who want to know your answer to this question: school board members. Teachers. Coaches. Counselors. Parents. Even the occasional legislator, neighbor, or dinner guest.
You could rattle off a list of problems your teachers bring up to you: attendance issues, students not engaged in (or disrupting) the learning environment, school safety … even conflict among your staff and complaints about salaries. You’re doing everything you can to create a healthy, happy learning environment, but in order to be successful, you need everyone on the same page.
Your students need coping skills to navigate today’s world—especially social media. You see the negative effects of online bullying and young ones trying to live up to Tik Tok influencer standards. You want to help—but you don’t have time to meet with every student who needs a little more support.
It seems like your board is always trying to get a new budget passed, which is harder and harder as housing and food prices continue to rise. You’re trying to make the best use of the funds you know you have. There’s more pressure than ever to use your resources to meaningfully address your students’ mental and emotional health.
(But while you’ve definitely earned a break, you won’t quit your responsibilities…
you care so deeply about these kids!)
Some evenings, when you walk out of the building, you seriously consider hightailing it to Bora Bora and turning your cell phone off for a month.
I'll be real with you...
- Confidently put your resources behind someone who can influence lasting results
- Help your students and your staff grow from year to year
- Work toward eliminating the need for suicide threat assessments and other stomach-dropping elements of your job
You don’t need another “motivational speaker.”
Motivation is temporary. Your students need skills.
- Easy-to-apply lessons on emotional resilience and healthy friendships, taught in an interactive small-group format
- One-on-one sessions for students who need extra support
- Special faculty breakouts to connect teachers with what students are learning, as well as helping the teachers manage their own (very valid!) emotions
Which means your school could benefit from:
Just like your students need to learn equations,
they need to learn to regulate their emotions.
Depression, anxiety, and ADHD—not to mention generational trauma & unstable home lives—still affect millions of youth.
The national standard for comprehensive school counseling programs is 250 students per counselor.
If that’s your ratio—incredible!
But even if that’s true for you …
This program is for schools where the leadership wants to:
The Peer Purpose Mentorship Program is a proven relationship-based, in-school curriculum designed to help students develop emotional resilience and healthy relationship skills
- Raise up a network of peer leaders who have the tools to help their fellow students through disappointment, anxieties, and other roadblocks
- Create a culture of responsibility and high self-esteem, where students respect the effect that their decisions have on themselves and others
- Give their teachers room to teach their subject matter, with less pressure to constantly help students manage their emotions
- Supplement the work being done at home and make sure kids without strong, safe home environments aren’t missing out on the chance to heal and grow during their teen years
Move from crisis mode to prevention by equipping your students to self-manage and self-regulate
The curriculum is scaffolded with additional in-person support based on your school’s needs.
Tier 1 (universal support) provides all students with skills, creates leadership opportunities, and establishes a structure to improve student body morale over time.
Tier 2 (targeted support) adds one-on-one work with students. It offers a space to work through situations that are not yet a crisis.
Tier 3 (intensive targeted support) provides more availability while helping students work through crises, rebuild self-esteem, and avoid self-sabotage.
Tiered Support Options
Typically, we cover Emotional Awareness in the fall and Healthy (platonic) Relationships in the spring. Each unit includes six lessons, delivered in small groups to each grade level and tailored to the needs of the school.
The students process their emotions and relationships with daily journal prompts and by engaging in facilitated discussion. During these conversations, I help emerging student leaders understand how to support their peers—and know when to ask for help.
Skills Curriculum
As the first step to earning students’ trust and starting conversations, I share my story of overcoming alcoholism, healing from years of feeling out-of-place, and learning to take responsibility for myself.
Then, I spend a couple days on campus talking with students, faculty, and administrators, observing the school’s culture and opportunities. Then, I deliver a comprehensive assessment and curriculum plan for you to share with your teachers, school board, and parents.
Initial Assembly & Assessment
The Peer Purpose Mentorship Program is an annual commitment that includes:
Note: I also offer custom support for staff and parents/guardians as they come alongside their students during the program.
Emotions
We start with the basics: emotions, feelings, and how to identify them.
Building Joy
Students learn the value of connection, fun, and not relying on external validation.
Managing Stress
Students look at what happens when they ignore stress—and learn tips for managing it.
Defining Your Limits
Students learn to recognize their
strengths and weaknesses.
Prepare for Failure
Students start looking at mistakes as
opportunities for growth.
Confronting Reality
Students evaluate how their own values, beliefs, and experiences affect how they see the world.
Emotional Awareness
Relevant topics. Honest conversation.
We start with:
Healthy Relationships
Students learn the characteristics of
healthy relationships.
Belonging & Connection
Students examine how they’re meeting
their need for connection.
My Circle
Students learn about their own responsibilities within healthy relationships.
Friendship & Codependency
Students learn to expect change in friendship
and resist fear and control.
Rejection & Betrayal
Students look at ways relationships can become painful and discuss how to heal.
Boundaries
Students learn how to respectfully maintain boundaries while navigating tough situations.
After the initial units, I add new topics based on what your students need to continue growing.
Relationships
So… is it worth it?
Imagine you have 30 students you know will benefit from one-on-one attention.
A typical cost in my programs for each of those students is around $62.50 per hour.
That’s less than sending that student to therapy or hiring another employee
to relieve the pressure on your teachers and counselor(s).
And it provides priceless opportunities for peace of mind and growth.
Your investment is based on school size and level of support. For the academic year, expect a cost-per-student ranging from $350-750, and expect me to be on campus multiple days a week, every other week.
Lonnie | Superintendent, Buffalo School District RE-4J
"I would describe it as one of the most sincere, authentic relationship-building programs that anybody can have in their school, that makes an impact so quickly."
Alexis | Principal, Gilpin Secondary Schools
"Bobby makes a very positive impact with kids—and it’s genuine. That’s huge because kids see right through that."
Alexis | Principal, Gilpin Secondary Schools
"The best quality about Bobby is that
he creates an environment where you can really trust him, even with subjects that feel weird and taboo. He doesn’t feel like an authority or higher figure, but instead just a guy (or friend) who’s always there to help when he can."
Have a question I haven’t answered? Drop me a note at hello@bobbyjonesspeaks.com, and I’ll do my best to get back to you within 3 business days.
One way to fund the Peer Purpose Mentorship Program is through a general fund—my pricing structure is designed to allow you to do that, without hindering your ability to hire other needed staff members. Another way is to apply for grants and seek other local funding opportunities. As part of the onboarding process, I can provide a white paper for you to share with your school board and voters (or you can download it here). In order to keep my focus on the curriculum and the students, I do not provide fundraising services.
Where should we get our funding?
My program is designed for the setup, character, ethos, and schedule of a public school. While I hope to expand in the future, right now, I stay focused so I can provide the best possible program within my original area of emphasis.
Do you serve private / parochial / charter schools?
This program is designed to run during the school day, within traditional class periods. Administrators find it works best to arrange the lessons and small group discussions during class periods on a rotating schedule. This can also provide a break for the teachers to catch up on the materials as well if they’re interested. (Although, to encourage open conversation, teachers don’t join students for the lessons.)
How will we fit the course into the school day?
No—my curriculum is experience-based and research-backed, tested first on myself and then proven by hundreds of newly emotionally resilient students. Many students actually see this as a benefit, as some have had bad experiences with therapists, and “mental health” can still carry a negative connotation. I help change that perception in my program.
Do you have a professional counseling license?
While I can’t guarantee exact results for every student, my school partners and I have seen kids heal from anxiety and depression. We’ve watched them stop needing or reduce the frequency they need therapy. Students who previously weren’t leaders have stepped up into leadership roles. Students who used to hide in plain sight have brought new life to their classrooms and relationships. Within the program, students even move down between tiers because as they heal, they need less support. There is power in learning how to manage your emotions, and we see the fruit in schools daily.
