We are thrilled to announce that Max Fripp has been named Executive Director of Playworks New England!
Max is no stranger to Playworks. He served as Executive Director, of then Playworks Metro Boston, from July 2008 to December 2015 when he grew school partnerships from 13 to 40 and secured $1.2 million in philanthropic funding.
“I am so grateful and excited to come back to Playworks. I believe it’s more important now, than ever, to build a movement that puts play and recess front and center on how we think about creating schools where every student feels safe, included and ready to learn.”
Max left Playworks after being recruited to join FoodCorps as Vice President of Programs (January 2016 – March 2018). In this role, Max led a strategic planning process focused on developing a signature program model incorporating hands-on gardening, cooking, and nutrition education. The plan also focused on the creation of FoodCorps state offices to support program quality and fundraising.
Most recently, Max served as Founder & Director at BEACON Academy (July 2023 – November 2024) where he oversaw the design, delivery, evaluation, and administration of this alternative high school program that provides wrap-around services to help students at risk of dropping out with a plan for post-secondary success. During his tenure he transitioned the program from grant funded to tuition based, securing $90K in earned revenue annually.
Prior to this, Max was the Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Greenfield Community College (December 2020 – June 2023). In this role he directed GCC’s rural innovation and entrepreneurship program aimed at strengthening K – 14 education and community-based entrepreneurship programs and partnered with the Center On Rural Innovation to develop a landscape analysis to create a strong rural digital and technology economy.
