Hello friendly faces! It’s a new Chicago North Shore Moms spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law.
Samia Bokhari’s journey to Highland Park is one of tradition, discovery, and passion. Originally from Pakistan and raised in Dubai, she moved to the U.S. through an arranged marriage, eventually settling in Highland Park with her husband to start her family, two wonderful daughters, a sophomore in high school and a freshman in college. Her deep involvement in her children’s schools and local volunteer work sparked a love for working with children, leading her to the Park District of Highland Park in 2018. Today, she is the lead instructor for the 4-year-old Mighty Oaks program at ParkSchool, where she nurtures a fun, impactful and engaging learning environment. Samia is kind and compassionate with a dedication for education, community, and nature. It’s a truly adorable program – my own child attended that program with her!
Get to know more about Samia’s pathway to early childhood education in Highland Park, her fun North Shore recs, an easy mantra we should all be so lucky to adapt and what makes ParkSchool a stellar choice for any early childhood beginning. Welcome, Samia!
Hi Samia, please introduce yourself – where do you live, what is your occupation and where is it? How long have you worked there?
My name is Samia Bokhari. Originally from Pakistan, I was born and primarily raised in Dubai, though not the glamorous version often portrayed in the media. I moved to the United States for the first time after marrying my husband in a traditional arranged marriage. We spent approximately five years in Evanston before discovering and falling in love with Highland Park, where we decided to settle and start a family. During my children’s time in school, I began volunteering, which eventually led to board positions and co-chairing fundraisers for the local school district. As my children grew older, I sought to pursue a career in a field that I am most passionate about—working with children. In 2018, I applied to the Park District of Highland Park, and the rest is history. Today, I am living my dream as the lead instructor for the 4-year-old Mighty Oaks program.
Tell us about your children.
We have 2 amazing daughters who are the center of our universe. Our older daughter is a first-year student in college pursuing a marketing degree and our younger daughter is a sophomore in High school. Both played basketball and dipped their feet in other sports such as volleyball and Field Hockey. Our older daughter was on the board for the Rotary club and dedicated her time to service work and continues to follow that path in college. Our younger daughter is involved in various clubs at her high school, one of them being Girl Up, which is a club that supports female empowerment and raising awareness to underrepresented women all around the world.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you? .
I really enjoy cooking and entertaining. Something I have grown to love is the experimental aspects of combining exotic flavors and crafting new recipes. Someday I would like to be a food blogger. I also enjoy travelling with my family and seeking out adventures in unfamiliar places, when on vacation.
What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent? Feel free to list all of the businesses that you have featured in the last year.
My absolute favorite thing to do is take long nature walks. We are so blessed to live in a community where I can admire the beauty of our town and see it magically change during the 4 seasons.
I love watching sunrises at Rosewood, no matter the season.
My favorite places to eat are Abigails and Le Colonial.
For desserts and cakes, it is always Bent Fork bakery.
My daughters and I love walking to Mil Colibris to enjoy a delicious pistachio croissant. We also love Hometown Cafe.
Traditionally, I grew up on chai, so Qawah house is a favorite on Friday nights.
What are you reading and watching?
I do not watch too much tv. I will enjoy a movie occasionally but nothing consistent. I recently started “The Air Raid book club” and finishing “The Pearl That Broke its Shell”
Your mantra?
‘Everything always works out.’ Take a break, breathe, and stop constantly worrying about tomorrow. What is not in our control should not encompass us.
Let’s get down to business. Please introduce your endeavor as an early childhood educator at an adorable early childhood program called ParkSchool.
ParkSchool is a fresh new concept in early childhood education that combines modern education methods with the expertise in recreation and access to the natural world that only the Park District can provide. Our educational staff and recreational professionals deliver a new level of STREAM (science, technology, recreation, engineering, art, and math) for young learners, with the goal of preparing them for success in kindergarten.
And tell us again what your role is there. Please expand on this.
I am the instructor for the 4-year-old program, Mighty Oaks. Within this program, our primary goal is to foster a healthy and safe learning environment for all children. As an instructor, my hope is to build individual relationships with each student, ensuring they feel welcomed and integrated into the Park District community. I am committed to cultivating an atmosphere in which students are encouraged to express themselves openly, allowing them to enter the classroom each day with enthusiasm and excitement.
What makes ParkSchool so special and different from traditional preschools
ParkSchool provides flexible scheduling options to accommodate your family’s needs. What sets ParkSchool apart is the opportunity to witness the growth and development of children as they progress from Sprouts to Mighty Oaks. One of the greatest joys for our team is observing siblings follow in each other’s footsteps, continuing to enroll in our program year after year. Our staff is dedicated to supporting the entire family. We strive to bring families together to make long lasting friendships.
Would you like to expand on any information about West Ridge Center renovation plans and how that relates to ParkSchool? I think people might like to know a little about it.
The new building enables the Park District to continue to offer an extraordinary early childhood enrichment program that uniquely focuses on STREAM curriculum. Some new features include bathrooms connected to each classroom, updated technology, direct access to an outdoor enrichment courtyard, and the opportunity to utilize the gymnastics gymnasium.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about ParkSchool?
What makes ParkSchool unique is its affiliation with the Park District of Highland Park, which plays a pivotal role in engaging multiple generations of families and strengthening our community.
What are your contact details for ParkSchool? Are there any Open Houses we should know about?
My email address is [email protected] and our tentative date for an open house is scheduled for Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
For any inquiries or further information, please feel free to reach out to Amanda Geoffrion, Supervisor for ParkSchool. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at 847-579-3121.
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
