How AIC’s MSOT Students Are Making a Difference and Gaining Skills
Through Community Experience
Springfield, MA – In a sunlit kindergarten classroom at Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School in Springfield, a group of young students shriek with laughter as they pass a ball during a game of hot potato. In another room, children take deep breaths—pretending to smell a flower, then blow out a candle—as they learn calming techniques. These moments are part of a six-week partnership that brought Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) students from American International College into three kindergarten classrooms this spring.
The initiative, known as the Comfortable Cafeteria program, is more than just a fieldwork assignment. It’s a community-based effort designed to help young children build social-emotional skills, and it’s giving AIC students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a diverse, urban setting.
“This fieldwork helps us put a face to what we’re learning—to see the difference we can make in the lives of these kids,” said MSOT student Naz Rodriguez. “We’re here to help them believe that school is a fun place, and a safe space to learn.”
Led by Dr. Allison Sullivan, professor of OT & post-professional OTD lead faculty, the program was supported through a $15,000 grant from the Hope for Youth and Families Foundation. It marks the second time the college has partnered with the MLK Charter School and Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services to deliver the curriculum, which includes games, breathing exercises, and hands-on activities that promote self-awareness, kindness, and inclusion.
In one activity, children were asked to draw a house, adding doors, windows, and details about their imaginary yards. Then, they compared their drawings with their classmates. “We may want different things on the playground or in the lunchroom,” the AIC students explained, “but we can all get along. We’re all different, and that’s OK.”
Teachers in each of the classrooms noticed the impact.
“Our students have been excited when the AIC students come in, and they’ve connected with the kids,” shared a teacher in K1. Another in K2 observed, “The AIC students are very engaging and keep a positive learning environment. They give equal opportunity for all students to be involved.” In K3, the class favorite was “Find a Friend Bingo,” which one teacher said helped students interact more positively with each other.
Dr. Sullivan says these activities are about more than just social-emotional development; they’re part of a broader goal to introduce trauma-informed, culturally responsive programming to neighborhoods that need it most.
“Teachers love when AIC students show up to the classroom, and students love being in these classrooms,” she said. “This is a neighborhood that can benefit from OT services and therapists who are culturally competent.”
Dr. Sullivan, who also serves on the board of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services and has lived in Springfield for many years, emphasized the importance of early intervention and access to mental health support. “When we reach children early with tools to support their emotional and behavioral development, we help build stronger, healthier communities,” she said. “This kind of partnership is essential for creating positive outcomes that can last a lifetime.”
She also notes that while community organizations often want to deliver evidence-based mental health programs, they may lack the internal resources or culturally matched professionals to do so effectively. “This partnership brings value to everyone involved,” she said. “Our students gain critical communication skills, professional behaviors, and insight into the communities they may serve after graduation. And the kids receive meaningful support that helps them grow.”
MSOT student Nina Kischkum agrees. “It’s a great way to integrate us into the community,” she said. “We’ve seen the way these kids benefit—fostering friendships is a big one. They can use these tools now, and as they get older.”
By stepping into these classrooms, AIC students are building more than experience—they’re helping to build a stronger community.
One recent example of that impact is Dr. Janelis Rodriquez, OTD, OTR/L—a triple Yellow Jacket who earned her BSOS, MSOT, and most recently, her post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from AIC. Dr. Rodriquez has accepted a position as an occupational therapist at the Martin Luther King Charter School of Excellence.
“This kind of job creation through community-based scholarship and collaborative community partnerships is exactly what I have been hoping to achieve through my career as an occupational therapist and educator in Springfield,” said Dr. Sullivan. “It’s a sign that school leaders recognize that OTs have valuable mental health skills and knowledge and that it is desirable to have practitioners who want to facilitate the development of positive mental health in the schools and communities where they work.”
With Dr. Rodriquez’s appointment, AIC OT students will have access to a dedicated mentor who understands their learning needs and can provide personalized guidance during fieldwork. This creates a win-win situation—supporting student success while helping the MLK charter school better serve its students.
The partnership between AIC and the MLK Charter School reflects AIC’s commitment to supporting the community while giving students the opportunity to grow through meaningful, real-world experience. It’s an approach that creates a lasting impact—for the kindergarteners and the College students alike.
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