The Tiegerman Story: One Family's Relentless Journey to Build a School for Neurodivergent Learners.

***His mother watched her sister lose the ability to speak —  Forty years later, that story is a school that's changed 700 lives annually*** In this episode, Dr. Inyang Takon sits down with Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman, licensed psychologist and Chief Operating Officer of Tiegerman, a life-cycle agency serving children and adults from age 3 through adulthood on Long Island, New York. They cover how families get admitted through the IEP and CSE process, why Tiegerman staffs two certified teachers per 12-student classroom, what 20 speech-language pathologists for 130 children actually looks like in practice, how transition planning works from preschool through the adult services side, and the story of the aunt whose traumatic brain injury sparked it all. Parents and educators navigating a neurodevelopmental diagnosis — or wondering what happens after a specialist placement ends — will find a genuinely hopeful, practical picture of what a fully joined-up system can look like. cation Department, and also runs a private psychology practice in Syosset, NY. **Timestamps:** 00:00 — Introduction to Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman and the episode 04:39 — The family story behind the founding of Tiegerman School 06:35 — Supporting children with speech, language, autism, ADHD, and learning needs 16:33 — Why language is the foundation of learning 17:33 — Tiegerman’s intensive classroom staffing and therapy model 33:13 — Preparing families for educational and life transitions 43:53 — “Teaching the extraordinary”: Tiegerman’s mission and long-term impact **Guest bio**  Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman, Psy.D., is Chief Operating Officer of Tiegerman Schools and Tiegerman Community Services, a family of non-public, state-approved schools and community services in the New York City Metropolitan Area.  They offer residential, vocational, and day rehabilitation programs. He has spent most of his career at Tiegerman — advancing from School Psychologist to Principal to Program Director before becoming COO in January 2023. Dr Tiegerman carries forward the organization's mission of "teaching the extraordinary" by focusing on early identification of language and autism spectrum disorders.  He holds a bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Maryland and a master's, Certificate of Advanced Studies, and Doctorate in School Community Psychology from Hofstra University. He is a licensed School Building Leader and School Psychologist certified by the New York State Education Department, and also runs a private psychology practice in Syosset, NY. **Connect with Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman**  Website: https://tiegerman.org Leadership team: https://tiegerman.org/executive-team/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiegermanschools/ LinkedIn (Tiegerman): https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiegerman85/ LinkedIn (Dr. Tiegerman): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-tiegerman-01473b17/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tiegerman85 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tiegerman85 **Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon** (NEW!) Resource Library: https://braindiverse.org Support the show **Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:** Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email Us at [eim@drtakon.com](mailto:eim@drtakon.com) Connect on LinkedIn Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician  Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals  Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com