ABOUT US
Say YES to RECESS is a dedicated group of parents, grandparents, teachers, and community members united by one mission: to restore and protect recess for all children. Together, they’re working to ensure every child experiences the full benefits of recess—supporting physical health, creativity, social growth, and emotional well-being—while also advocating for and uplifting teachers and school leaders.
Meet the FOUNDERS
Their mission is rooted in a core belief: all children grow and thrive when given at least 60 minutes of unstructured play each day. That conviction has sparked a growing national movement. Today, SYTR is rapidly expanding, launching chapters across the country and uniting parents, educators, policymakers, and students behind one shared goal—to make meaningful recess a fundamental part of every child’s school day.
Nationwide advocacy
In early 2025, SAY YES TO RECESS (SYTR) officially launched as a nonprofit, turning passion into action and advocacy into measurable change. The movement was founded by three mothers—Rachel Bush, Kathryn Truman, and Morgan Garner (pictured left)—who had spent years working to address recess inequities in Montgomery County, TN. After two years of advocacy resulted in only a modest 10-minute increase in daily recess, they shifted their focus to the state capitol, determined to drive statewide reform and champion a national goal of 60 minutes of recess for every child.