Coach Yashana Rivera is an AmeriCorps coach at the Parthum Elementary School in Lawrence. As a first year coach at a large school that has not had Playworks programming for 4 years, Coach Rivera expected a challenge. But in her very first month at the Parthum, Yashana faced challenges that nobody expected.
On Thursday, September 13, a number of homes and families were affected by devastating gas explosions throughout Lawrence and Andover. Following the explosions, the Parthum school was used as a shelter for displaced families. Students were not able to return to school until Tuesday, September 18.
Yashana supported her students through this challenging time by focusing on Playworks’ core values of healthy play, community, and inclusion. She always comes to school with an upbeat attitude and goes above and beyond to create a fun and welcoming environment for her students.
Earlier this month, the superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools visited the Parthum school to observe Playworks programming. Coach Rivera helped to strengthen our partnership with the Lawrence Public School District by representing Playworks and running an awesome day of recess.
Coach Rivera recently announced her cohort of Junior Coaches for the 2018-19 school year. We can’t wait to see what she will teach them and how they will contribute to a positive school climate at the Parthum.
We’re proud to have a dedicated coach like Yashana representing Playworks in the Lawrence community. We are confident that she will continue to make an impact at the Parthum School for the remainder of the year.
