Washington, D.C. Staff
The key to our success is the incredible enthusiasm and dedication of the Playworks staff. Meet some of the people who are bringing play to Washington, D.C. Please note: Our direct school programs are led by the efforts of our program coordinators in each school in each of the cities we serve. While they are too numerous to list here, they are essential to the success of the program.
Dwight Phyall
Dwight started his career with Playworks as an AmeriCorps Member at Dr. Rayner Browne Elementary in Baltimore, MD. He continued his Playworks journey for three more years in Baltimore as program manager and one year as a Playworks Trainer. Dwight became the program director of Playworks Washington, D.C. in June 2011. He is excited about his role within the organization and is looking forward to growing both professionally and personally. His goals are to continue to use play as a medium for creating and building healthy communities everywhere and to effect positive change in every facet of life.
Andrew Gagie
After two glorious years as an AmeriCorps Program Coordinator with Playworks in Inglewood, CA, Andrew is looking forward to his new role in Washington, D.C. He’s excited to share his experience implementing Playworks’ programming in schools with D.C.’s 16 program coordinators and looks forward to helping them grow personally and professionally. Andrew is proud to work for an organization that models its core values and is thankful to be part of a positive change movement for children and communities nationwide.
Rachel Hustedt
Rachel Hustedt, program manager, is a native Iowan and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She spent a year as a program coordinator and AmeriCorps member in Washington, D.C. before becoming a program manager. Aside from recess, Rachel enjoys running and is an avid college football fan (Go Big Red!). Rachel is excited to continue to spread the power of play to DC students and bring Playworks into schools in every ward of our Nation’s Capital.
Andrea Stark
A Chicago native, Andrea moved to D.C. from Maine, where she served as director of education and exhibits and executive director of the Maine Discovery Museum. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College and NYU School of the Arts and a former professional dancer, she brings a wealth of experience in development, communications, and education to Playworks Washington, D.C. Andrea looks forward to engaging the community in Playworks’ mission of making physical activity and play a part of every child’s day.
