How Play Builds Belonging and Resilience with Elizabeth Cushing

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 We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL.  IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more: Simplify and streamline technology Save teachers’ time Reliably meet Tier 1 standards Improve student performance on state assessments 🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.