LiiNK: 2015 Reflection

2015 has been an awesome year for the LiiNK Project. Let's take a minute to reflect on the different steps that were taken over this past year to help our children be more active and responsible through play and character development in the school setting for several public & private schools in Texas.
January, 2015

• Signed two Texas school district MOU's for public schools to begin the LiiNK intervention in Fall, 2015 (Irving ISD & Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD)
• Continued the 2nd year of the LiiNK Project with K-2 private schools (Starpoint & Trinity Valley School) - each of these schools was paired with a matching control school in the area
• The Miles Foundation and the Andrews Foundation gave funding to the LiiNK Project
• Ordered Positive Action character curriculum for the schools - this is the one we use exclusively for the LiiNK Project (www.positiveaction.net).

February through May, 2015

• Irving & EM-S schools engaged in three LiiNK trainings
• Observations & data collection began & continued in all 12 schools (public & private)
• Parent talks interspersed
• Board of trustees presentations
• Webinar #2 with Texas Department of State Health Services on recess in the schools click here
• Invited speaker presentation at the U.S. Play Coalition Conference on LiiNK (Rhea)
• Follow up LiiNK presentation at the U.S. Play Coalition Conference (Rhea & Rivchun)
• Shape America presentation - LiiNK
• Discussions began with other school districts interested in being part of the LiiNK Project
• Discussions continued with funding partners

August, 2015

• One more half day training before school started
• Talk to parents at Open House

September through December, 2015

• Irving & EM-S school districts launched LiiNK in four elementary schools - grades K & 1 (four recesses daily and three character lessons weekly)
• Observations & data collection began & continued in all 12 schools (public & private)
• Parent talks interspersed
• Webinar #3 with Texas Department of State Health Services on recess in the schools click here
• Presentation at the TASA & School Board Convention - Austin, Texas
• Presentation at the CEFPI Convention - how to design playgrounds differently - San Diego, CA
• Two presentations about results of Year 2 data - TAHPERD Convention - Dallas, TX
• Two school districts signed on to be part of the LiiNK Project for 2016
• Discussions continued with funding partners

It is a non-stop process to move this project forward each and every day. I reflect back on how the project began. We wouldn't be in private and public schools today without some very forward thinking leaders in the schools. I have to thank some very deserving superintendents/associate superintendents for their trust in me and my team to do the research right and keep the information as transparent as possible within each district. So a shout out to Dr. Jim Chadwell, Superintendent at Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Daniel Gallagher, EM-S ISD Deputy Superintendent of Elementary Services, Dr. Adam Grinage, Associate Superintendent for Academic Services and Dr. Sandi Cravens, Physical Education & Health Coordinator from Irving ISD. The principals at each of these schools have also been amazing: Bryan McLain, EME principal, Kelli Shipp, EME asst principal, Angela Long, Irving Townsell principal, Raymie Ramsey, Irving Brown principal, and Jorge Acosta, Irving Gilbert principal. And definitely not least, the teachers from all four schools have been wonderful through this learning process. Change of this magnitude in schools cannot happen without a group coming together as a unified team. These four groups definitely showed how to do this. Thank-you all from the bottom of my heart for a wonderful 2015. Can't wait to see how great things will be in 2016 as we expand in the districts we are already in and as we move into other cities and states across the country.