Five Questions With: Jonathan Gay

JONATHAN GAY is the executive director of Playworks New England, part of a national organization that brings play and youth-development programming into schools during recess to improve the health and well-being of children and enhance learning through the power of play. /COURTESY PLAYWORKS NEW ENGLAND
JONATHAN GAY is the executive director of Playworks New England, part of a national organization that brings play and youth-development programming into schools during recess to improve the health and well-being of children and enhance learning through the power of play. /COURTESY PLAYWORKS NEW ENGLAND

Jonathan Gay has been with Playworks New England, part of a national organization that brings play and youth-development programming into schools during recess to improve the health and well-being of children and enhance learning through the power of play, for 11 years. Gay has coached students on the playground, developed new partnerships, served as development manager and lead the organization through a tri-state expansion and name change.

Gay is credited with helping grow Playworks New England from seven to more than 100 elementary schools and serve 50,000 youth across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Bates College, where he played soccer and rugby and earned a Master of Science in sports leadership from Northeastern University.

PBN: Playworks New England is a nonprofit that attempts to improve the health, social and emotional well-being of young students by incorporating play into their school day. In what schools are you active in Rhode Island and what has been the response?

GAY: We have worked with 10 elementary schools in Providence and 18 districts across the state. The schools have been successful using play at recess to increase physical activity as well as teach students core skills such as communication, collaboration and problem-solving.

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Rhode Island elementary schools are incredible partners because they believe in the power of play to accelerate learning and health for their students. Over the past two years, Playworks has partnered with Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to bring Playworks New England’s services to 36 schools across the state.

PBN: What are some examples of changes you’ve made in school schedules or curriculum based on your mission and research?

GAY: When kids are active and know how to resolve their playground conflicts, they return to the classroom focused and ready to learn. We’re seeing they are better able to focus and they participate more.

Rhode Island is one of eight states across the country that has passed legislation requiring daily recess. This is remarkable because it demonstrates that all stakeholders value recess as an opportunity for children to be healthy and to enhance learning. We have seen schools build in a minimum of 20 minutes of daily recess for all students and ensure children have options to be active and have fun every day.

Our evaluation of Playworks programming implementation in these schools shows an increase in physical activity, school climate improvements and more time for learning during the school day.

PBN: You’ve stuck with the company for 11 years, from intern to executive director. What encouraged you to stay with the company for so long?

GAY: I love the mission and believe in change. Playworks is an organization that is reimagining recess as a way to change schools and improve education for children.

In order to make positive change in schools, we must put ourselves in kids’ shoes and identify with students. Play and recess can be an incredibly powerful tool to make learning time effective, productive, safe and inclusive. This is what I want for my own children and all children across New England.

PBN: In that time, how did you learn to advocate for your ideas and eventually move up the ladder in a corporate environment?

GAY: I look up to the leaders that I worked for, as well as my fellow co-workers. They have taught me how to collaborate, strategize and lead. In addition, I have learned a great deal from our external partners – this includes the leadership at organizations [such as] Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the principals in the schools we serve.

I understand that it is important to listen to the needs of all stakeholders and then advocate for the Playworks mission as it fits. I was promoted to executive director because of the great people around me and together we will build a movement around the importance of play in schools.

PBN: Why did Playworks New England choose to expand its coverage area to include Rhode Island? What opportunities did the organization see here?

GAY: Rhode Island has invested in the health and well-being of children in elementary schools for decades. A partner organization, the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition has been advancing healthy policies and practices in Rhode Island schools since 2002. We [Playworks New England] were introduced to the coalition team in the fall of 2015. It was an ideal partnership. Playworks provides training and consultation to schools to increase daily physical activity and the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition has relationships with hundreds of elementary schools in the state.

Together, and in partnership with a creative and committed partner in Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, we have been able to expand programming rapidly to over 20 schools annually. This ideal partnership, coupled with the recess law signed in 2016, make Rhode Island a state ahead of the curve with respect to the health and well-being of children in the region. Playworks New England is lucky to partner with such a committed community.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.

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