Finding Their Footing: Movement, Confidence & Community with Mr. Jay

In this episode of In Conversation, Andie sits down with Parkside’s gym teacher and Afterschool Program Coordinator, Jakiem Swinger, to talk about how movement helps our students build confidence, regulate big feelings, and find community.Jay shares his journey at Parkside—from starting as a one-to-one in 2008, to designing movement breaks, to leading our adapted physical education program and coordinating afterschool clubs. He talks about how structure and routine in the gym create room for silliness and joy, why he builds games like “toilet tag” and “6–7 tag” around students’ interests, and how he balances cooperation and competition in ways that feel safe and motivating.You’ll also hear how being a dad, a basketball coach, and a personal trainer shapes the way he connects with kids, welcomes anxious prospective students into the gym, and reframes “losing” as a chance to learn. It’s a conversation about movement, mindset, and the power of trusted relationships behind Parkside’s big feelings and big wins.