In this episode of In Conversation: A Parkside Podcast, host Andie Levinger sits down with Parkside parent Adam Francique for a moving and deeply honest conversation about parenting his son, AJ, who is about to graduate and begin a new chapter in middle school.

Adam — a born-and-raised New Yorker, marathon runner, and graphic designer — shares AJ's journey from a little boy whose first teacher meetup happened on a stoop during the pandemic to a confident young man who reads novels aloud, excels at math, and serves as a student ambassador welcoming prospective families. Along the way, Adam speaks openly about navigating the turning-five process and the New York City special education landscape as a single father, and about the people, resources, and community that carried him through.

The conversation touches on the power of a strong parent-school partnership, the importance of teaching a child to advocate for himself, and Adam's commitment to paying forward the guidance he received to families just beginning their own journeys.