Sideways School provides individualized social skills support and other
special education services for preschoolers,
in classrooms, homes, and afterschool programs.
Get in touch to learn more!
The outdoor program runs for private groups on request.
Serena L. Krombach, MA, MSEd
Preschool Special Education Provider (SEIT)
Hello!
I’m a New York State–certified Special Education teacher and have worked in inclusive preschools and elementary schools for over a decade. I've put the formal outdoor program on hiatus to focus on providing individualized Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) services in classroooms, homes, and afterschool programs.
The seeds of Sideways School were planted when I moved my teaching from the classroom to the park in the Covid times. I continued to develop the program knowing that nature provides all the resources needed for skills development—especially when the children lead the play!
I'm most influenced by the Bank Street developmental–interaction approach, but I also draw from Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Forest School, and DIR/Floortime. In all of these, success in school and life depends on the mastery of social–emotional skills and the forming of positive relationships—which is where I'm most enthusiastic about supporting children.
I believe that education is a partnership between teachers and parents. I'm a parent myself, of two young adults with their own learning and social-emotional challenges, so I've experienced (and somehow survived!) every prior parenting stage. The empathy, flexibility, and understanding that I've needed from teachers myself are what I give to each family I'm lucky to get to know.
I look forward to learning about you and your child. Please reach out through the form below, and I'll get back to you asap.
Warmly,
Serena