S4E

De Facto Leaders: Using Recess to Build Social Skills and Help Students Discover their Leadership Potential with Elizabeth Cushing of Playworks

May 14, 2026 · 56:38

Recess is often thought of as an “extra” activity in the school day. Sometimes it’s even taken away from students as a punishment. In this episode recorded for De Facto Leaders, host Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan talks to Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, to understand why recess is actually an integral part of the school day. In fact, it can help students feel connected and reduce chronic absenteeism.

The conversation covers:

Simple ways educators can set expectations and rules to create structure and a sense of safety around recess
How to use play as a reset and a preventative measure, instead of something that’s taken away from kids as a punishment
How training kids as peer coaches can help decrease disruptive behaviors and help kids discover their own leadership potential

Learn more about Playworks on their website at: https://www.playworks.org/

Resources mentioned in this interview include:

Comprehensive Game Guide that Outlines Games Across Grade Levels: https://www.playworks.org/indiana/game-guide/

The sister website for Playworks with tools for assessing the health of your school’s recess: https://www.recesslab.org/

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De Facto Leaders: Using Recess to Build Social Skills and Help Students Discover their Leadership Potential with Elizabeth Cushing of Playworks

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