OUR STORY: MEET OUR FOUNDER

The P.L.A.Y. Education Corporation (PLAY Education) was created by Shannon Milliken (she/her), a former physical education teacher and mom, who through her professional and personal journey, desperately wanted to be a catalyst for educational systems change.  Her inspiration was her Asian-American daughter, who will grow up and identify as a woman of color.  As any caretaker, wanting what is best for children, is the most important work that we as a society, could ever do and ever invest in.

Growing up as a transracial adoptee in middle class, suburbia Colorado, privilege was always at the forefront of opportunity and education for Shannon.  Teaching in a variety of districts and schools and working at the Colorado Department of Education allowed her to observe and experience the inequities our educational system faces, to provide diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments for children, specifically in rural, low social-economic communities and historically marginalized and underrepresented populations.

It is Shannon's passion and enthusiasm for children, education and social justice to be the voice for the voiceless and be a driving force to support and implement innovative, creative and novel environments for students to thrive in.  Shannon believes in the importance of each child needing to be seen and heard and given the same opportunities to learn, grow and excel, just as they are.