Tyliyah Becomes a Team Player

When Tyliyah started the school year, her teacher noticed she often self-isolated and struggled to work in groups.

Coach Isaiah, along with her teacher Ms. White, saw her potential and encouraged her to join Playworks’ Junior Coach Leadership Program. In order to do this, they challenged her to practice respect, positive communication, and responsibility.

This completely changed the trajectory of her school year.

“Having Playworks as a resource for her to grow socially was a golden opportunity,” shared Ms. White. 

With Isaiah’s support, Tyliyah found her voice and grew into a leader on the playground. She developed the confidence to lead activities, work with others, and support younger students on the playground and in the classroom.

Her journey reflects the impact of play and mentorship in helping students like her discover their potential and thrive within their school community. 

Tyliyah 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

More Stories of Play


Mr. Watkins standing outside school
Mr. Watkins standing outside school

Mr. Watkins Transforms Leadership Style ›

Assistant Principal Amere Watkins came to his role with experience working with older students, where he relied on traditional discipline methods. Transitioning to an elementary setting presented new challenges, especially…

Ms. Pfeifer with students
Ms. Pfeifer with students

Ms. Pfeifer Builds Connections Through Play ›

Ms. Pfeifer, a new teacher with a background in school counseling, brought a deep commitment to social-emotional learning to her classroom. Through her partnership with Coach Isaiah, she embraced the…

Ms. White playing at recess
Ms. White playing at recess

Ms. White Becomes Play Advocate ›

Initially, Ms. White was unsure about how play could enhance her teaching. She was focused on strengthening her student’s academic skills in the classroom and viewed recess as a “break”…

Angel smiling on the playground
Angel smiling on the playground

Angel Discovers Confidence as a Leader ›

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,…