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.