Thank you to our Recess Rockstar, Francisco Sanchez

  1. Updates
Kids gravitate towards Francisco, the at-risk supervisor, at Theuerkauf Elementary in Mountain View, California. In addition to being a source of extra support for many students at the school, Francisco works closely with the Playworks coach and is out at every recess as a friend, teammate, and trusting adult.  After five years at Theuerkauf Elementary and 23 years in the Mountain View Whisman School District, Francisco is retiring.  Playworks would like the opportunity to appreciate him for being a recess rockstar who has helped transform student lives through the power of play.

Thank you Francisco for…

… the countless times you’ve played goalie at recess!

…the thousands of times you’ve turned the jump rope singing “ice cream soda” or any other jump rope song that students request!

…the infinite games of tag that you have kept safe, inclusive, and fair!

…the amazing recess dance parties!

And most of all, thank you Francisco for being a caring consistent adult who models the Playworks core values of respect, inclusion, healthy play, and community on a daily basis.

Wishing you a happy retirement from all of us at Playworks!

More Updates


January 12, 2023

Golden State Warriors Community Foundation & Salesforce partner with Playworks ›

We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Warriors Community Foundation and Salesforce during the 2022-2023 school year. With their support, Playworks Northern California has delivered safe and healthy play to over 41,200 elementary school children of promise this year! Check out this inspiring video showcasing our work together:      

A boy and girl holding basketballs on a playground.
A boy and girl holding basketballs on a playground.

November 16, 2022

2021-22 Annual Report ›

We are excited to share with you a look back at everything we accomplished in the 2021-2022 program year. It was a year focused on rebuilding after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are proud to share that we served 41,200 students in the Northern California Region.  We are thankful for your continued…

three people with Playworks shirts
three people with Playworks shirts

July 28, 2022

A year of social and emotional learning ›

“You can’t do SEL, trauma, or equity work without each other,” Jennette Claassen, Head of Evaluation, Playworks. As Playworks continued to progress on our equity journey, we explored a critical question: what are the intersections between play, social and emotional learning, physical activity, and trauma? A working group focused on this question decided, among other…