Podcast: Admissions Head, Jen Susser, Shares What Makes WEDS Unique

West End Day School Admissions Head, Jen Susser, was recently a guest on The Curious Incident, a podcast for special needs families hosted by an NYC special education lawyer. In the conversation, Jen shared what distinguishes WEDS from other special education schools—and what makes us “More Than a School.”

“Social-emotional learning is truly woven through all aspects of our program—it is not just a class or a group a few times a week—it is a core part of what we do,” Jen explained. “Every student has a counselor who stays with them for their entire time at WEDS.”

As one example, she described our daily morning welcome committee, which greets every child at the door. “We’re not just saying hello—we’re checking in on how each student is arriving that day. It gives us a pulse on their emotional state before they even get to class.”

Jen also emphasized WEDS’s deep understanding of student behavior. “We know that all behavior has meaning, so we work closely with our students to really understand what they’re telling us. Schools can be very shaming for our type of kids—making kids apologize, etc.—and we are very mindful of a child’s experience of shame.”

The role of families is another defining feature of WEDS. “We think it’s so important for parents to get support during this time, as well as counseling support for the child. Often the focus is solely on the child, but we know parents also need a space to process the challenges of raising a child who struggles in school.”

Jen has a real gift for capturing the heart of WEDS. Listen to her share more about our unique, compassionate program on The Curious Incident—available on Apple podcasts and YouTube.