2019–2020 AmeriCorps Coaches
William Dole
School: Daniel Boone Elementary School
Favorite Recess Game: Foursquare
Bio: William Dole was born and raised in New Mexico, and made the move to Chicago this past July. He received his B.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of New Mexico (UNM), and has been working with students in aftercare and as a teacher’s assistant for the past three years. He has a passion for making a difference in students’ lives and in creating and fostering an inclusive, safe, and fun recess environment. In his free time, Will loves to engage with the diverse art and theatre communities throughout Chicago.
Zandry Bullock
School: Namaste Charter School
Favorite Recess Game: Championship Knockout
Bio: Zandry Bullock is a native of Crystal Springs, MS. After graduating high school, she pursued national service with AmeriCorps through the National Civilian Community Corps. She enjoys being hands-on in meeting the needs of others. She is passionate about music, and spends her free time playing guitar, piano, and drums.
Stephanie Ovitt
School: Chappell Elementary School
Favorite Recess Game: Sneak
Bio: Stephanie Ovitt is originally from the town of North Creek in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. She received her B.A. in International and Global Studies from Middlebury College in Vermont. She is passionate about sustainable development and improving access to education for people around the world. On weekends, she loves to spend time hiking, exploring nature, and baking cookies.
Alexandria Feagin
School: Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts
Favorite Recess Game: Bridge Ball
Bio: Coach Lex is originally from Merrillville, IN. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, IN. She has worked in youth-focused organizations for seven years and is truly passionate about youth development.
Stella Taylor
School: Flex
Favorite Recess Game: Magic Tag
Bio: Stella Taylor began with Playworks as a part-time coach in December 2018. Originally from Wisconsin, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with B.A. degrees in Dance, Spanish, and International Studies. After teaching youth dance for over 7 years, she moved to Chicago in 2018 to continue her pursuit of dance professionally with Boom Crack Dance Company. Stella is passionate about Playworks and it’s core values as she gets to help create a positive impact on the youth of Chicago through healthy, safe, and inclusive play.
Porcha Lipsey
School: Oscar DePriest Elementary School
Favorite Recess Game: Foursquare
Bio: Porcha Lipsey is originally from Lansing, Michigan. She received her B.A. in Acting at Columbia College Chicago and is passionate about impacting others through her creative arts world. In her free time, Porcha is usually binge-watching on Netflix for “study purposes” only.
Jordan Deluna
School: Shields Elementary School
Favorite Recess Game: Tag
Bio: Jordan Deluna, also known as Coach Jay, has always wanted to work in education. He believes education and supporting students is his life’s calling, and he makes sure to bring that ethos – along with lots of care and positivity – every day to his school.
Cassidy McGinnis
School: Monroe Elementary
Favorite Recess Game: Championship Knockout
Bio: Cassidy McGinnis is from Mokena, IL. Before becoming a Playworks Coach in 2018, she attended the University of Arizona where she studied Public Health & Sociology. In her free time, Cassidy loves to travel, workout, and spend time with friends and family.
Eric McCree
School: Hefferan Elementary School
Favorite Recess Game: Freeze Tag
Bio: Eric McCree is from the South and East Sides of Chicago. This is Eric’s 6th year coaching and first year with Playworks. His favorite food is Giordano’s deep-dish pizza, basketball is his main sport, and his favorite player is Kobe Bryant.
Raven Ahrens
School: Boone Elementary
Favorite Recess Game: When Nature Calls
Bio: Raven Ahrens is from Evanston, Illinois. He loves to play sports and enjoys all things summer. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Kinesiology and wants to be a P.E. teacher in the near future.