Inaugural “Playmaker Captains Program” Pilot Launches, First Captains Announced

Playmaker Captains (Top Row, Left to Right) Tara Armstrong, Lisa Pease, Megan McDuffee, (Bottom Row, Left to Right) Jillian Zeilenga, Leah Scott, Jayna Doherty. 

We count more than 16,000 professionals as members of our Playmaker Community. These dedicated educators, teachers, medical professionals, social workers, and others use what they learned to create the positive relationships and joy-filled environments that children need to heal, learn, and thrive.

In recent months, we announced a new phase of growth for our movement with a strategic focus on early childhood professionals, who work with kids during the most critical stage of development. As we seek to increase the number of early childhood professionals in our Playmaker Community, we’re creating new ways to access resources, adding new learning opportunities, and finding new points of connection to support a more robust peer-to-peer learning network.

When Lucas Malo, Director of Community Engagement for The Playmaker Project, joined the team last summer, he held listening sessions. In those sessions, and through other connections with Playmakers, he heard from Playmakers that they wanted more ways to meet, engage, and collaborate with each other. One of the first programs to launch as a result is the Playmaker Captains Program, a pilot program based in New England, that kicks-off this month by welcoming an inaugural cohort of six New England-based Playmakers who represent a variety of professional roles within early childhood and education.

This is the first of several Community Engagement pilot programs slated for launch in 2023. Captains will help build community by hosting virtual and in-person programs and fostering engagement on social media. They’ll also serve as ambassadors for Playmaker voices, and The Playmaker Project goals.

“Captains will take up the challenge of activating and supporting our Playmaker peer-to-peer learning community while helping us to advance the Playmaker movement,” said Lucas. “With the help of these passionate and talented community leaders, we can deepen our impact, support capacity building, and increase the sustainability of our network.”

Welcome the inaugural class of Playmaker Captains:

Tara Armstrong, a grade 2/3 multiage teacher for New London Public Schools. Superpowers: “Gratitude, Creativity, Authenticity.”

Jayna Doherty, director of Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) and Eliot Health Services. Superpowers: “Humor, Authenticity, Courage.”

Megan McDuffee, a grade 3 teacher in the Groton Public School District. Superpowers: “Authenticity, Courage, and Simplicity.”

Lisa Pease, director, owner, and teacher at Reach for the Stars Child Development Center. Superpowers: “Authenticity, Love, Simplicity”

Leah Scott, a kindergarten teacher in the Boston Public School District. Superpowers: “Love, Compassion and Fun!”

Jillian Zeilenga, a kindergarten teacher at East Montpelier Elementary School. Superpowers: “Fun, Openness, Creativity.”

Lucas said it was important that the Playmakers chosen for this first cohort came from across the New England region and represented a variety of roles. He added, “We think it’s extra special that our 6 captains, together, represent all 10 of our Superpowers!” 

The new Playmaker Captains will kick-off their volunteer term by coming together for a retreat in February. Lucas said he wants all Playmakers to know that these Captains represent the entire Playmaker Community. “Please do let [the Captains] know what resources and programs you want,” he said. “Together with each of you, our captains, and our staff, we’re going to make magic!”

The goal, after piloting the program in New England, is to expand the leadership initiative across the country. “This is the beginning of something beautiful for The Playmaker Project,” Lucas said.