STUDENT LIFE AND MORE

Throughout the year, student enrichment programs are designed to offer students a well-rounded, 21st century education. Past programs include a visit from Neusole Glassworks, programs organized in partnership with the Cincinnati Arts Association, and in-house programs organized by members of our Student Council.

Student Life and More

Residencies

Bringing the world to Springer.  Springer has been described by parents as a “bubble,” referring to the safety their children feel in our environment as compared with past experiences. In parallel, and in order to make sure our students are exposed to thought-provoking experiences in preparation for high school, we invite different professionals from the region or other parts of the country to join our community for a brief time to grant our students access to other people and different ways of thinking.

Annually, Springer hosts an Artist in Residence and Musician in Residence, as well as a Visiting Author. Recently, Springer introduced an Actor in Residence. Most residencies conclude with a performance or physical contribution. These enriching programs are supported by two generous funds - the Maureen Wenker Artist in Residence Fund and the Norita Aplin Musician in Residence Fund.  Learn more about our Residencies

 

Be Your Best Self Week

Aspiring to be our best selves. Every year Springer students, faculty and staff take part in a week-long commitment to improving their physical health. Members of the community are challenged each day of the week to improve their own performance from the previous day. Whether counting steps, jumping jacks, push-ups or other physical challenges, our Physical Education teacher uses the intercom system to keep community members engaged in challenges at specific times of day. Building community through individualized improvement is true to Springer’s identity.

 

Student Life and More
Student Life and More

Oliver Gale Washington Academy

Biannually, Springer’s seventh and eighth graders are given the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. Our students learn history and governance first hand, and create lasting memories, through our Oliver Gale Washington Academy. This 4-day enrichment experience offers our Middle School students the chance to visit the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and more. The Academy is generously funded by the Gale family.  

School attire

Acceptance of the individual. Our students have individual identities, and we embrace and empower the development of their unique self-identity. There are no uniforms at Springer because our fundamental belief is that we help students get to know themselves. Attire, as one would expect, must be appropriate for a school environment.

Additionally, on one day per month community members are invited to wear “Springer gear” to demonstrate their pride in our school, which is referred to as an “Eagle Pride Day.” Each new student receives a Springer t-shirt so that everyone can show their Eagle Pride. “Springer gear” can be purchased here.

 

Student Life and More
communication

Communication

Monthly, weekly… and as needed. Communication is a Springer core value which we reinforce through our actions. This starts with our Faculty and Instructional Assistants, who model effective communication in the classroom. Teachers and Administrators reach out to parents as needed to reinforce partnership (another core value) in an effort to understand and help each child succeed. Student work and school notifications are sent home each week in a “Wednesday Folder," and community updates are sent to Lower School and Middle School parents at the beginning of each month.

 

Daily schedule

Seven hours go by fast. School begins around 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. every day. Students are able to be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m. as we offer staffing support to help our early arrivers. Dismissal in such a busy neighborhood is complicated, so we offer parents who pick up their children a number of options to help them get on and off campus in the way they are most comfortable.

Frequently throughout the year students have the opportunity to take part in a specific after-school program that meets their interest. Typical after-school program offerings include Tae Kwon Do, Dance and the Track Team.

 

Student Life and More
Student Life and More

Lunch

Four days of packing, one day to order. All students bring a packed lunch to school to support their own unique dietary preferences and needs. Once school is under way in the fall, every Thursday becomes Order Out Day! Families place orders online a few days in advance and students enjoy carryout from that week's designated vendor. Participation is optional, and lunch is delivered to the student lunchroom. Past providers have included Jimmy John's, LaRosa’s and Chick-fil-A. Order Out Day is a favorite weekly activity and fun opportunity for parent volunteers, too.

 

Transportation

Supported by school districts. As a small school, Springer is not able to provide transportation services for students. Many local school districts transport students to Springer, while some families prefer to transport their own children. In either case an army of Springer staff take part in dismissal each afternoon, allowing parents and students a sense of the caring community that surrounds each child every day.

 

 

Student Life and More
Student Life and More

Closings & Delays

Winter weather may strike! Springer’s emergency notification system alerts parents and guardians of school cancellations. Notifications are also posted on major media outlets, Springer’s website and Springer’s Facebook page. Springer serves students in many different school districts and because road conditions may vary from place to place, we urge parents to make safety decisions based what is best for their family. Students transported by local districts who are delayed when Springer is not will have those tardies excused. 

Learn more about Academics:

    ✕

    Allison Oh
    M.A., CCC-SLP

    Allison holds a B.A. in Speech-language Pathology from Miami University with a minor in Disability Studies. She earned her M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Cincinnati. Allison previously completed clinical training in a variety of environments including a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) traineeship through the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). Currently, Allison serves as a speech-language pathologist for Springer School and Center, an evaluator for Springer Diagnostic Center, and a therapist for Springer Learning Center.

    In her role, Allison aims to provide therapy that will allow her students to fully engage in the classroom as speakers and listeners. Her objective is to develop a comprehensive understanding of how each student creates meaning from language and how they express intended messages. Beyond the achievement of therapy goals, she strives to help her students become confident, self-advocating communicators through the development of self-awareness and incorporation of personal strategies. Her dynamic approach to assessment is centered around individualization, ensuring each student is provided appropriate accommodations. Allison is dedicated to providing families with insightful information about their child’s communication profile, and meaningful recommendations to assist with communication needs inside and outside of the classroom.

    Allison enjoys hobbies like crafting, golfing, and playing the guitar. She is a sports fan and live music/show enthusiast. Allison resides in Cincinnati with her 3-year old dog named Pepper.

    ✕

    Breanna Spears
    Administrative Assistant, B.A.

    Breanna earned her B.A. in Mass Communications from Savannah State University, where she developed a strong foundation in communication strategy, organizational storytelling, and supporting diverse communities. She brings over seven years of experience in Human Resources and Administrative roles within the finance sector, where she specialized in process development, employee support, workflow improvement, and operational coordination.

    Breanna now serves as the Center Administrative Assistant, supporting the Diagnostic Center’s daily operations. In her role, she assists with scheduling, billing, parent communication, and system organization to ensure a smooth and supportive experience for families and staff. Her background in HR and administration helps her create clear structures, anticipate needs, and maintain consistent communication across teams.

    Breanna is passionate about building processes that not only work—but make sense. She is deeply committed to bridging the gap between completing tasks and truly understanding the “why” behind them. Her goal is to contribute to an environment where clarity, compassion, and efficiency allow everyone—families, students, and colleagues—to feel informed and supported.

    Outside of work, Breanna enjoys gardening, home DIY projects, creating art, and traveling. She resides in Cincinnati with her husband and their two children.

    ✕

    Shelby Chamberlin
    Family Outreach Coordinator, M.Ed.

    Shelby earned her M.Ed. from the University of Cincinnati in Applied Behavior Analysis. Prior to that, she received her B.A. in Elementary Education with endorsements in Learning and Behavioral Disorders from Morehead State University. Shelby began her career as an intervention specialist teaching students with emotional and behavioral disorders. She continued her professional journey by joining the Springer team in 2021 as a fourth and fifth grade teacher. In her time at Springer she has worked as a classroom teacher, Adventures in Summer Learning teacher, tutor and now as the Family Outreach Coordinator.

    As Family Outreach Coordinator Shelby supports families looking for answers in the diagnostic evaluation process, as well as supporting families who may be interested in school year admissions or tutoring, and as director of the Adventures in Summer Learning Program.

    Shelby is a passionate sports fan, cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats and Cincinnati Bengals. She also enjoys cooking, hot pilates and being outside with her family. Shelby resides in Northern Kentucky with her spouse and daughter.

    ✕

    Alyson Caldwell
    Occupational Therapist, OTR/L

    Alyson earned her BS and MS degrees from Eastern Kentucky University. Alyson has prior experience working as an occupational therapist in outpatient pediatrics and skilled nursing rehabilitation before Springer. Alyson now serves as the team lead occupational therapist at Springer School in addition to Springer Diagnostic Center.

    As a school-based occupational therapist, Alyson is passionate about helping students develop the skills they need to participate fully and confidently in their learning environments. Alyson specializes in supporting handwriting development and executive functioning, with a focus on helping students become more independent, engaged learners. Alyson believes in meeting each student where they are, building on their strengths, and collaborating with educators and families to develop meaningful and practical goals and strategies that truly support each student’s growth.

    Alyson enjoys yoga, being outside with her dogs, antique hunting, and cheering on the Bengals. Alyson is a soon-to-be first time mom and resides in Northern Kentucky with her husband.

    ✕

    Bradley Paramore
    School Psychologist, Ed.S, NCSP

    Bradley earned his Ed.S and M.Ed. degrees from John Carroll University. Prior to that, he received his B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Case Western Reserve University. Bradley served as a lead psychologist in public schools for over 10 years. He has previously served as the President of the Ohio School Psychologists Association and held several other leadership positions within the National Association of School Psychologists and Ohio School Psychologists Association. His experiences include serving on various working groups for the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce and the Ohio Department of Public Safety before joining Springer.

    Bradley is passionate about providing comprehensive support to families that identifies the root cause of concerns. His goal is to provide evaluations that highlight a student’s strengths as well as proven strategies that can help a student thrive.

    Bradley is a passionate sports fan and former college football coach. He enjoys attending comedy shows, live music events, traveling, and listening to podcasts. Bradley resides in Cincinnati with his wife and 2 children.

    ✕

    Ann Kilpatrick
    Occupational Therapist, OT/L

    Ann earned both her B.A. in International Studies and her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from The Ohio State University. She has prior experience working as an occupational therapist in adult acute care and inpatient rehab.  In 2012 she began working as a school-based occupational therapist at Springer School.  Ann now works as part of the Springer Diagnostic Center Team. 

    Ann believes that given the support they need, each student is able to reach their full academic potential. In her role as part of the diagnostic team, she seeks to provide individualized assessment data to identify motor needs and use that data to suggest potential interventions that can be used by families and educators in order to best support the child.

    Ann enjoys spending time with her kids, hiking, travelling, yoga, and reading.  She lives with her husband, 3 children, and 2 dogs in Cincinnati. 

    ✕

    Deborah Gilbert
    Clinical Psychologist, Ph.D.

    Dr. Gilbert earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan, took a gap year to teach English in Japan and travel through Asia, and then earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy.  She also completed a 3-year postdoctoral residency at Chestnut Lodge Hospital, provided therapy and psychological assessments in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, and served children and families of greater Cincinnati public schools conducting psychological evaluations.  Dr. Gilbert is happy to have joined the Springer Diagnostic Center team in 2024.

    Dr. Gilbert believes in the potential of young people and works with them to make the world a better place.  In the evaluation process, she wants you and your child to feel understood and supported.  Dr. Gilbert strives to understand the whole child and build an actionable and evidence-based plan for parents and teachers to support the success of the child. 

    Dr. Gilbert’s personal passions include her family, traveling, hot yoga, and book club.  She and her husband have been married 30 years, have 2 adult daughters, 2 beautiful grandchildren, and a sweet Cavachon dog named Marigold. 

    ✕

    Molly Bernosky
    School Psychologist, Ed.S., M.Ed.

    Molly earned her Ed.S. and M.Ed. degrees from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to that, she received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kentucky. Molly has served as the lead school psychologist in public schools, public school administrator overseeing special education teams, and testing psychologist at an ADHD clinic before arriving at Springer. Molly was a founding member of Springer Diagnostic Center and now serves as the Diagnostic Center Director.

    Molly is passionate about providing evaluation experiences that feel approachable, collaborative, and strengths-based. Her goal is for families to feel listened to, validated, and supported throughout an evaluation process.

    Molly’s hobbies include hiking, listening to podcasts, attending live music and comedy shows, coaching youth sports, and participating in community events. Molly resides with her husband and 2 children in Cincinnati.