One dedicated woman who has inspired students in athletics and life throughout all the years she has given to Concord. Kathy Lehman is a model educator, coach, and human being, who uses her creativity, energy, and empathy to make a difference in her community.
She has been able to create a lasting impact on the school, starting when she went here in high school. She was a part of the graduating class of 1986. During her four years here, she participated in softball, basketball, volleyball, prom, and class committees. When she looks back on her accomplishments during this time, she shares: “My senior year, our volleyball team won the state championship. During my junior year, our basketball team won the Big Eight championship, and that was the first one that the girls ever won.” With those accomplishments came an abundance of memories. One of her favorite memories while in high school was not from a sport but rather a class she was in. Lehman explains, “In Mr. King’s class, every week we would do this trivia game. It was always so much fun because it was competitive, but also just fun.”
After finishing high school, Lehman attended Western Michigan University. For her, this was a full-circle moment: “My parents went to Western Michigan University, so I actually started out in their daycare program when I was little. I kind of started there and ended there.” While there, she studied elementary education and has minors in math, science, and creative arts.
Once it was time for her to begin her student teaching, she made her way back to Concord to work with Mrs. Hills, from whom she had learned so much. Lehman explains that she feels she learned the most from the mistakes she made along the way: “I am glad that Mrs. Hills was there to guide me. She was there to teach me what to do next. If this did not work out, what could you do next; how could you look at it differently?”
Now, she continues to work as a teacher on the Concord staff. Currently, she teaches Algebra to the eighth grade, a future teacher course, and also helps in elementary classrooms. Lehman enjoys being able to be in multiple places throughout the day. She says, “I think it is good to mix things up after a while. That is one reason why I like to switch grades every once in a while. It lets you have a fresh new perspective; I think that is what I like right now.”
One of the grades that she spent a considerable amount of time teaching was second grade, alongside Amanda Arbuckle. Arbuckle has known her for a long time and has grown a strong bond with her throughout the years. When asked what it was like working so closely with Lehman, she responded, “I loved working with Kathy. We bounced ideas off each other, laughed, planned together, and really made each other better teachers.” Arbuckle also shares the admiration she has for Lehman as both a person and an educator. In terms of her teaching, Arbuckle sees how reflective Lehman is of her teaching and the needs of her students. She adds that Lehman likes to bring the best practices and engaging activities to her students. As a person, Arubuckle finds everything she does very admirable. She says, “Kathy is a great friend and fun to be around. She has served so many important roles in our district that have and will continue to have a lasting impact on our community.”
Another huge aspect of Lehman’s life has been her coaching career. She has been coaching for over thirty years and has made her mark on the Concord volleyball program. Throughout those years, she has acquired countless championships; she has won 10 conference championships, 12 district championships, five regional championships, and made it to the final four one time. Though these stats are incredibly impressive, to Lehman, it is the players that matter the most. She says, “Records and stuff are great, but when I look back at teams, I remember relationships and the people on my team as my accomplishments.” Lehman can reach these accomplishments with her girls through the many hours they put into practice. She explains that practice is where you see the most improvement: “I love practices; I like to coach games, but practices are sometimes where you see the most growth. You do not see some of those moments in games, but they are big moments that happen.”
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This year’s team has achieved many large accomplishments under the leadership of Lehman. She shares her favorite part about coaching them: “We have had challenges where we have lost players, had injuries, and had sickness. They have had a lot of stumbling blocks that could have taken them down, and I have enjoyed watching them persevere.”
Brianne Sinden has accompanied Lehman throughout her coaching career. She began helping as the manager when she was in middle school, and Lehman was the coach for the JV team. She says, “I learned so much from her and her players, and I was inspired to play myself. Even though she was never my coach since she was the JV coach when I was playing varsity, I have always looked up to Lehman as a mentor in both volleyball and life.” Not only has Sinden been able to help Lehman, but she has been able to see the positive impacts her coaching has had on players firsthand through her daughters. She says, “She has believed in them, even when there were struggles. One thing that always stands out about Lehman’s coaching style is her compassion for her players. She loves all of the players that come through her program.”
This year, Lehman has two seniors on her team, one of them being Jaylyn Otto. She has been on varsity the past two years with Lehman as the coach and credits her for making her into the player she is today. Otto says, “Definitely from freshman year to senior year, she’s helped me with my attitude.” Otto also enjoys having Lehman as a coach because she genuinely cares about all of her players. She explains that she will never give up on any of her athletes and that she sees a future in each one of them. She adds that she is smart in all aspects of the game, including the lineups and words of encouragement.
When Lehman is not dedicating her time to school, she has some pastimes. She enjoys kayaking, reading, working out in her garden, watching TV, and spending time with her family. She has many favorite movies but narrows it down to five of her favorites: Major League, Toy Story, The Notebook, Dirty Dancing, and Purple Rain. Her favorite songs are Let’s Go Crazy by Prince and The Revolution.
Lehman also shares that her family is a large part of her life. Not only is she grateful for her husband and kids, but she loves being so close with all her family. She says, “Living next door to my mom and dad has always been a blessing. I love having my sister so close; she is my best friend.”
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Lehman’s sister, Kristina Mandrelle, has been close with her for their entire lives. When asked what her favorite childhood memory with her was, Mandrelle responded: “I was in 3rd grade and she was a senior in high school, our parents for Christmas had given us plane tickets to visit our grandparents in Florida for Spring Break. Up until that point, we had driven every year with our parents to Florida, but this trip was my first time flying and it was just the two of us. I remember feeling so excited but also so lucky that I got to be hanging out with my big sister for the week in Florida.” Currently, Mandrelle enjoys doing anything with Lehman that they can do together. Some of her favorites include going on road trips, shopping, going to a Tigers game, grabbing a meal, or a backyard BBQ. Mandrelle also shares that she has a lot of admiration for her sister and everything she does. She says, “Her strength and perseverance, I had watched it on the court when she played sports, witnessed it as she coached from the sidelines, and last year when she had a stroke I saw it in full swing as she worked to regain her strength and was determined to get right back on the sideline with her team!”
Lehman has worked alongside her husband, Mr. Lehman, for many years. He shares how they met: “In 1993, she was working the concession stand, and I believe she cut her finger. It probably would have required just a band-aid, and I think I may have gone to get a fire rescue department guy to take a look at it.” Throughout their time together they have done many things, but some of Mr. Lehman’s favorites are when they go to concerts together. While being together, Mr. Lehman has also been able to watch her grow and adapt as a coach. He says, “The other day during practice, she was reading a book to them about life lessons and culture. She probably did not do that when she first started coaching, but now she has evolved to that. I think that is why they all have really good chemistry. She has a growth mindset and has grown each year she has coached.”
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One of Lehman’s four kids attends Concord right now: Bradie Lehman. Bradie has had the honor of playing on a team for her mom for the past two years but has watched her coach all of her life. One of her favorite memories of her mom was in 2012 during a season she watched her mom coach. She says: “My favorite memory of her is when they won the final four. It was really fun seeing her happy.” Along with admiration for her coaching skills, Bradie admires much about her mom as a person; the biggest trait being her strength. She explains, “I admire how strong she is coming back from that stroke was so hard, but she did it. I am really proud that she did.”
Lehman is a woman who truly bleeds purple and gold. She has made a difference in so many lives and helped many athletes live up to their potential. We thank her for everything she has given to Concord and wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors!
