One of Coach Isaiah’s proudest achievements was creating the opportunity for one of his students, Angel, to transform into a confident leader on the playground.
When Isaiah first met Angel, she didn’t speak and often sat alone during group activities.
Isaiah saw this as an opportunity for Angel and her peers to discover the transformative power of play: the power to create authentic connections. He encouraged her classmates to sit with her and include her at recess.
That’s when everything changed.
As the year progressed, Angel became an active part of group activities in the classroom and her smiling face helped light up the playground during games of jump rope at recess.
Her teacher, Ms. Pfeifer, noticed a significant improvement in Angel’s academic performance and social engagement as the year progressed.
“What she doesn’t say in words, her actions speak volumes,” shared Isaiah.
Angel is not the student most adults would typically think of as a leader. Isaiah sees her potential.
That’s why this year Angel is thriving in Playworks’ Junior Coach Leadership Program.
With Isaiah’s mentorship, she is blossoming into a role model, feeling a part of the school community and confidently encouraging other kids to connect and play.
Angel is just one of many stories of Coach Isaiah’s impact, and one of thousands from communities across the country that embrace play and Playworks. Explore more of Isaiah’s impact
