Lisa Karkhoff is the Founder and Director of Operations at Image of God Academy, bringing operational leadership, community partnership experience, and a deeply personal understanding of the challenges families of children with complex disabilities face. As the parent of a child with significant physical and developmental needs, Lisa has spent years navigating education, healthcare, therapies, accessibility, disability services, and community resources. Through that experience, she has become a knowledgeable advocate not only for her own son, but also for other families seeking to understand and access the services, programs, and opportunities available to their children.

Lisa’s vision for Image of God Academy grew from her own search for a school where children with complex learning and physical needs could receive specialized education without sacrificing faith, belonging, or acceptance. She has seen firsthand how overwhelming fragmented systems can be for families and how difficult it can be to know what resources exist, how to access them, and where to turn for help. Her years of navigating those systems and helping other families do the same have strengthened her commitment to creating a school that supports not only the student, but the entire family.

Lisa believes every child deserves to be known, valued, and given meaningful opportunities to learn, participate, and grow in independence. At Image of God Academy, she focuses on operations, accessibility, community partnerships, family resources, and building the systems necessary to turn the school’s mission into a sustainable reality. Her perspective as a parent, advocate, and resource for other families keeps their needs at the center of that work and fuels her commitment to creating a Christ-centered community where children with complex needs and their families can truly belong and thrive.