Leroy Slanzi & Robyn Young

Leroy Slanzi is the proud father of two children, Evi and Cruz, who inspire him daily. Born and raised in the small town of Boston Bar, British Columbia, Canada, he is the son of an Italian immigrant, which has instilled in him a deep appreciation for the values of hard work and resilience. Growing up within Indigenous communities, Leroy feels fortunate to have been influenced by the teachings and values of Indigenous peoples, which have profoundly shaped his identity and professional journey.
With over 25 years of experience as a Special Education Teacher, Classroom Teacher, and Principal, Leroy has dedicated his life to cultivating relationships built on kindness, empathy, and trust. He believes in the power of leadership to make the world a better place. He has consistently focused on nurturing a positive impact in the lives of students, families, and educators. Currently, he is working for the Lower Nicola Indian Band, feeling proud and fortunate to be in the final stages of his career working alongside Indigenous people.
Leroy’s journey reflects a steadfast commitment to fostering inclusivity and understanding in education. His work has been guided by the principles of emotional intelligence, relational leadership, and a growth mindset, which he integrates into every aspect of his life. As he continues to serve and uplift those around him, Leroy remains humble about the path that has brought him to this point, dedicated to making meaningful connections and advocating for a brighter future for all.
I would be happy to answer any questions about the program. Please don't hesitate to contact me: [email protected]
With over 25 years of experience as a Special Education Teacher, Classroom Teacher, and Principal, Leroy has dedicated his life to cultivating relationships built on kindness, empathy, and trust. He believes in the power of leadership to make the world a better place. He has consistently focused on nurturing a positive impact in the lives of students, families, and educators. Currently, he is working for the Lower Nicola Indian Band, feeling proud and fortunate to be in the final stages of his career working alongside Indigenous people.
Leroy’s journey reflects a steadfast commitment to fostering inclusivity and understanding in education. His work has been guided by the principles of emotional intelligence, relational leadership, and a growth mindset, which he integrates into every aspect of his life. As he continues to serve and uplift those around him, Leroy remains humble about the path that has brought him to this point, dedicated to making meaningful connections and advocating for a brighter future for all.
I would be happy to answer any questions about the program. Please don't hesitate to contact me: [email protected]

Robyn Young is an experienced Instructional Services Helping Teacher and a Licensed Play is the Way Practitioner. With a deep commitment to fostering academic and social-emotional growth, Robyn holds a Bachelor of Education in Curriculum and Design and a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University. She is currently finalizing her Master of Education at Queen’s University, further strengthening her expertise in creating inclusive and engaging learning environments.
Robyn’s teaching journey has taken her across continents, from her start at a BC offshore school in Wuhan, China, to her impactful work in Langley, where she’s been teaching since 2012. Her specialization in early literacy and social-emotional literacy has positioned her as a trusted mentor and resource for teachers throughout Langley. Recently certified as a Play is the Way practitioner under the guidance of Leroy, Robyn now shares the transformative power of play in education, blending proactive behavior education with engaging, relatable storytelling.
Guided by a whole-child approach, Robyn believes in nurturing each child’s academic abilities while fostering resilience, a growth mindset, and social skills through humor and shared experiences. Her workshops and presentations reflect her passion for creating balanced, joyful classrooms where every child can thrive.
When she’s not working with teachers or diving into new curriculum ideas, Robyn finds peace in nature. She enjoys hiking, swimming, and outdoor adventures, finding calm and inspiration near the water.
You can reach Robyn at [email protected]
Robyn’s teaching journey has taken her across continents, from her start at a BC offshore school in Wuhan, China, to her impactful work in Langley, where she’s been teaching since 2012. Her specialization in early literacy and social-emotional literacy has positioned her as a trusted mentor and resource for teachers throughout Langley. Recently certified as a Play is the Way practitioner under the guidance of Leroy, Robyn now shares the transformative power of play in education, blending proactive behavior education with engaging, relatable storytelling.
Guided by a whole-child approach, Robyn believes in nurturing each child’s academic abilities while fostering resilience, a growth mindset, and social skills through humor and shared experiences. Her workshops and presentations reflect her passion for creating balanced, joyful classrooms where every child can thrive.
When she’s not working with teachers or diving into new curriculum ideas, Robyn finds peace in nature. She enjoys hiking, swimming, and outdoor adventures, finding calm and inspiration near the water.
You can reach Robyn at [email protected]
Where it all began
Responding to the constant demand from Australian primary schools for a sustainable whole school approach to social and emotional development, Wilson McCaskill took his popular and effective games based program Play Is The Way® (formerly known as The Game Factory) out of his home state of Western Australia and invited schools across the country to try it and assess its effectiveness.
“I have been delighted to continually and consistently report on the effectiveness of The Game Factory program as an ongoing means of improving positive social behavior across entire school populations. In addition, I have found that levels of social phobia and separation anxiety have been very low in schools employing this program. Overall the program has been found to be an excellent and sustainable means of increasing classroom cohesion and consequently overall student wellbeing.” - Dr Helen Street – Social Psychologist, 2004
The results spoke for themselves and Play Is The Way® is now a valued and consistent education practice of many schools throughout Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The theoretical underpinning of the Play Is The Way® methodology can be found in educational research which highlights the central role of social skills and values in determining educational outcomes.
Our constant objective is to give research practical application. Play Is The Way® is a hands-on way to teach and learn personal and social competencies.
“Personal and social competency is the set of abilities that relate to students’ identity in the world, both as individuals and as members of their community and society. Personal and social competency encompasses the abilities students need to thrive as individuals, to understand and care about themselves and others, and to find and achieve their purposes in the world.” - British Columbia Curriculum
Play Is The Way® methodology is the result of extensive practical experience with children in a wide range of schools and teaching environments. This experience confirms that effective life and learning behavior is best discovered, learnt and embedded by “doing.”
“I have been delighted to continually and consistently report on the effectiveness of The Game Factory program as an ongoing means of improving positive social behavior across entire school populations. In addition, I have found that levels of social phobia and separation anxiety have been very low in schools employing this program. Overall the program has been found to be an excellent and sustainable means of increasing classroom cohesion and consequently overall student wellbeing.” - Dr Helen Street – Social Psychologist, 2004
The results spoke for themselves and Play Is The Way® is now a valued and consistent education practice of many schools throughout Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The theoretical underpinning of the Play Is The Way® methodology can be found in educational research which highlights the central role of social skills and values in determining educational outcomes.
Our constant objective is to give research practical application. Play Is The Way® is a hands-on way to teach and learn personal and social competencies.
“Personal and social competency is the set of abilities that relate to students’ identity in the world, both as individuals and as members of their community and society. Personal and social competency encompasses the abilities students need to thrive as individuals, to understand and care about themselves and others, and to find and achieve their purposes in the world.” - British Columbia Curriculum
Play Is The Way® methodology is the result of extensive practical experience with children in a wide range of schools and teaching environments. This experience confirms that effective life and learning behavior is best discovered, learnt and embedded by “doing.”