Episode Details

Summary

Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, joins Jethro Jones to talk about how play builds belonging, emotional resilience, leadership, and attendance at school. They discuss what changes when recess becomes a predictable, inclusive place where every student can join a game, how adults model connection by playing alongside students, and how junior coaches turn older students into peer leaders.

They also talk about the practical side of bringing Playworks into a school: choosing games that keep students moving, reducing conflicts that follow students back to class, using Title I and other funding sources, and helping school communities make recess a meaningful part of the school day.

Chapters

• 0:00 — Welcome to Transformative Principal
• 0:59 — What Playworks changes on the playground
• 2:45 — Games that keep every student included
• 5:30 — Bringing play into classrooms
• 7:01 — Why play builds emotional resilience
• 10:16 — Adults, attendance, and belonging
• 13:30 — Junior coaches and student leadership
• 17:25 — How schools pay for Playworks
• 19:37 — Why every age needs meaningful play
• 20:40 — Transforming a playground community
• 23:10 — Recess, school pride, and belonging
• 25:40 — A practical invitation to go play

Show Notes

• Guest: Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks
• Playworks: playworks.org
• Playworks podcast and 30-Day Attendance Reset: playworks.org/podcast
• Topics: inclusive recess, emotional resilience, attendance, school climate, peer leadership, junior coaches, and funding school-based play

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