Ms. James is a rockstar teacher and huge supporter of Playworks and Coach Caroline at the Gardner Pilot Academy. When recess time was faced with staffing challenges, the K-2 paraprofessionals were required to come out and help during recess time, even though this time was during their lunch period. Ms. James never complained and took on the challenge with a smile on her face. She bundles up in the cold weather and is flexible and understanding when recess moves indoor because of weather. She exemplifies all of the Playworks core values. She builds an inclusive, safe, and healthy community at the K-2 recess by helping to hold the jump ropes, using positive and encouraging language, and playing catch-drop with the students. She is also never afraid to be playful and silly if Coach Caroline asks the students to “walk like a cookie monster.”
Ms. James is an incredible supporter of the Junior Coaches that help run K-2 recess. Coach Caroline has even seen her singing and dancing when the Junior Coaches are leading cheers! She even made it a point to come and find Coach Caroline to tell her how impressed she has been with the Junior Coaches leadership skills on a day that Coach Caroline wasn’t even there! Ms. James is also a huge fan of all of the special claps we do at Playworks and during after-school assemblies she always requests a big whoosh-clap for the students. Ms. James is an amazing educator and she works with kids from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. with little to no break and still manages to have a smile on her face. She supports every aspect of Playworks and her positive attitude and playful nature with students is incredible.
