In Conversation: A Parkside Podcast

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and host Andie Levinger is joined by all four members of The Parkside School's OT department — Christine Yen, Abby Chirokas, Leah Bataille, and Sophie Norris — for a wide-ranging conversation about the profession they love and the work they do every day with our students.The team shares how each of them found their way to OT (some as early as high school, some after a first career), how they describe this often-misunderstood field to friends and family, and the specialties they're each drawn to — from assistive technology and handwriting development to trauma-informed practice and the polyvagal theory. They unpack what makes school-based OT at Parkside distinct, why task analysis is one of the profession's superpowers, and how working alongside teachers, social workers, and speech therapists allows them to see the whole child.Along the way, you'll hear about beloved go-to activities (the hot dog swing, bubble mountain, balloon tapping, obstacle courses), simple regulation strategies families can try at home, and a moving story from Leah about how a daily movement break became the foundation of a student's whole school year. The episode closes with a Fast Five and a reflection from Andie on how an OT lens shapes her own work in admissions and placement.A warm, generous, and informative listen — and a fitting tribute to a department that lives by connection before correction.

In this episode, Andie sits down with Jackie Ament, Parkside's beloved head teacher on the fifth floor, and Rebecca Frank, our Instructional Coach, for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about what it truly means to dedicate a career to children. Jackie and Rebecca reflect on how they each found their way to teaching, what comes naturally, what has been hard, and how the profession has evolved over decades. They talk about relationship-building, self-regulation, self-compassion, and the unspoken hours teachers put in long after the school day ends. They also share advice for new teachers and what they each consider the greatest gift of their time at Parkside. Afterward, Andie chats with speech therapist Jessica Scovel about the conversation — and the qualities that make Jackie and Rebecca such extraordinary educators.

In this episode of In Conversation: A Parkside Podcast, Andie sits down with two members of our extraordinary team to explore the essential role creativity plays in educating the whole child.First, Andie speaks with Clara Elser, a member of Parkside’s support staff, about her work with students and the importance of seeing and supporting each child as a complete individual. Clara shares how building rapport, fostering trust, and creating space for artistic expression can transform a child’s school experience. She reflects on her own creative journey and the ways in which community, empathy, and imagination shape both learning and personal growth.In the second half of the episode, Andie is joined by Jessica Scovel, Speech Therapist at Parkside, for a thoughtful conversation about the profound impact of the arts in education. Together, they discuss how creative outlets help students develop emotional awareness, perspective-taking, and confidence. Jessica shares practical insights into how creativity can be woven into daily life—both in and outside of school—to nurture connection and resilience.This episode is a powerful reminder that education is about more than academics. At Parkside, creativity is not an add-on—it is a pathway to empathy, understanding, and meaningful growth.

In Episode 4 of In Conversation, Andie speaks with Parkside alumnus Remy Aubrun ’07, who has returned to the school as a member of the support staff. Remy reflects on his student experience, the transition to middle school, and how empathy and presence shape his work with students today. Andie is then joined by Jessica Scovel for a conversation about leaving and returning to Parkside, the school’s collaborative culture, and how adults can best support students through periods of change.

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.

How do you truly meet a child where they are—and what happens when you “change the context” instead of trying to change the child? In this episode of In Conversation: A Parkside Podcast, host Andie Levinger sits down with Dr. Sima Gerber, professor of speech-language pathology at Queens College and a consultant to Parkside’s Speech and Language Department for more than thirty years.Sima reflects on her path into the field, the moment that shifted her focus from adults to children on the autism spectrum, and what it really means to take a developmental, relationship-based approach. She and Andie explore the role of play, attunement, and mental health in supporting children’s growth—and why looking at the whole child across emotional, social, motor, and linguistic domains matters so deeply.At the conclusion of the episode, Andie is joined by longtime Parkside speech therapist Jessica Scovel, who has been with the school for the better part of two decades and offers her perspective on Sima’s enduring influence on Parkside’s practice.This episode is part of Parkside’s 40th Anniversary year. Learn more at parksideschool.org/40years.

How do you build a school that truly meets children where they are—and keeps learning integrated, consistent, and joyful? In this kickoff to In Conversation: A Parkside Podcast, host Andie Levinger interviews co-founders Albina Miller and Leslie Thorne about The Parkside School's origins, the complementary strengths that made their partnership work, and the “whole child” philosophy that still anchors the school 40 years later.At the conclusion of the episode, Andie is joined by colleague Jessica Scovel, seasoned Parkside speech and language therapist, who reflects on the conversation and adds her perspective as a long-time practitioner at the school.This inaugural episode of Parkside's first podcast has been produced as part of Parkside's 40th Anniversary year. Learn more at parksideschool.org/40years.