Meet Coach J

  1. Updates

Coach Clifton Jackson, “Coach J,” is the engine that drives recess powered by Playworks at the Kindezi Academy, formerly Joyce Kilmer IPS #69. Coach J joined the Playworks Indiana team in the fall of 2016 and is making change happen one recess at a time.

Raised in central Indiana, Coach J understands what makes our community move. As a dad, he knows how to motivate, empower, and engage students.

Coach J puts his football experience and history as the “king of kickball” into practice to develop his students’ athletic and kindness skills. Aware of the external factors at work outside of the school walls, Coach J is focused on making sure his recess is always a safe and healthy place to play, every day.

“The kids I serve have so much dark in their lives,” said Coach J. “I just want to be one of the few consistent, bright lights that they see every day.”

Thanks for rocking recess, Coach J!

Favorite Playworks cheer: Oh! A milkshake.

Most rewarding recess moment: I was moved when a student insisted on my return to the school next year. I knew that I was in the right place at the right time. Powered by simple tools, focused on spreading joy and practicing empathy, I was making a contribution.

What does the crystal ball say about your future? My future is bright because I’ve finally found work that’s meaningful, rewarding, and challenging. I love serving these kids and feeling like I’m making a difference in their lives on a daily basis.

More Updates


March 27, 2023

Building Skill Through Play: Making Choices ›

Allowing and providing students with the opportunity to make choices Spring has sprung in Indiana and our recess teams are finally able to make it outside on a more consistent basis. This March, not only have we been playing loads of games outside, we’ve been allowing and providing students with opportunities to make choices.  A…

March 7, 2023

4 Fun and Easy Ways to to Support Playworks Indiana  ›

4 Fun and Easy Ways to to Support Playworks Indiana  1. Join our MVP Committee to help plan our Annual Corporate Kickball Tournament Join our Kickball MVP Committee! Bring your energy, excitement, and ideas to the Kickball MVP Team for our monthly meetings leading up to the event in the fall. Leverage your personal and…

February 7, 2023

Building Skill Through Play: Encouraging Students to Initiate and Sustain Games ›

The second semester of school is under way and it’s off to a great start! School staff have been working the entire first semester of school to create a welcoming environment at recess, teach conflict resolution skills, and play so many fun games. In January, school staff were focusing on encouraging students to initiate and…