Recess Spotlight: Meet April, Head of Experience at Recess
When you meet April, one thing becomes clear right away: she’s passionate about people. Whether she’s talking about supporting employees, building joyful experiences for families, or helping schools thrive through Recess’s Giveback Program, her energy and empathy shine through every word.
We sat down with April to learn more about her background, what drives her, and how she’s shaping the Recess experience for both families and our growing team.
Q: You focus on both customer and employee experience. Why is the employee side just as important as the customer side, especially in a startup?
April:
An amazing leader once told me, “It’s so important that the inside of the house feels the same as the outside of the house.” That really stuck with me. You can have the coolest product, the slickest website, and a great social presence — but if your team doesn’t feel that same alignment internally, it shows.
At one point in my career, we were doing everything we could for customers but not setting our team up for success. Once we restructured to really invest in our people — their development, appreciation styles, and superpowers — everything changed. The customer experience got better because the employee experience got better.
Startups like Recess have the chance to build that from day one, and I love that we’re doing exactly that. Our people are the ones who bring our mission to life.
Q: At Woom, you worked with a product parents are passionate about — kids’ bikes! How does that experience inform your work at Recess?
April:
Woom was the first place I worked where we had two distinct customers — the parents buying the bikes and the kids riding them. That complexity is similar to what we have at Recess. Caretakers are using our platform to find and book camps, but the kids are the ones actually experiencing the magic of those programs.
To succeed, we have to understand both audiences. It’s not just about a smooth booking process — it’s about choosing the right providers and partners so every child has a meaningful experience.
Trust and joy were core values at Woom, and they’re core at Recess too. We build trust by consistently doing what we say we’ll do — and we infuse joy into every touchpoint for both parents and kids.
Q: As a parent, what was the moment that made you think, “There has to be a better way”?
April:
Picture this: twenty browser tabs open, a color-coded spreadsheet, three school calendars, group texts with other parents, vaccination records, and two paper planners. I’d blocked out an entire morning just to handle summer camp sign-ups — and by the end, I was stressed, snappy with my kids, and thinking, why is this so hard?!
When I found out what Amy and Molly were building with Recess, I remember thinking, finally — someone is fixing this. I’m so excited to help bring this solution to life for families like mine, in a way that feels easy, intentional, and even… fun.
Q: What part of the Recess experience are you most excited about creating for families?
April:
Right now, we’re focused on foundational work — making it easy for families to find camps that fit their needs in one place. But I’m really excited about where we’re headed: a true one-stop shop where parents can find, book, and manage all their care, camp, and class needs.
My dream? That parents don’t just say, “That was easy,” but, “That was actually fun.” Kind of like when you hit a milestone in Monday.com and confetti bursts on the screen — that little extra magic that makes you smile.
Q: You’re also helping build partnerships with schools and PTAs through Recess’s Giveback Program. What excites you about supporting Austin’s education community?
April:
I come from a family of educators — my mom was an elementary teacher her whole life, and my husband spent 20 years in education — so supporting schools is deeply personal for me. Teachers and staff are the heartbeat of our communities, and I know how much they pour into their work.
Through Recess’s PTA Giveback Program, we’re able to give back directly. We create a custom code for schools so when parents book camps or classes, a portion of the sale goes right back to their PTA. It’s quick, easy, and already making a big impact. I can’t wait to see how we continue to grow this program and support even more schools across Austin.
Redefining What “Experience” Means at Recess
April reminds us that creating something special for families starts with how we care for our own team. Her thoughtful approach to building experiences — from the first click on the site to the moment a child walks into camp — captures what Recess is all about: trust, joy, and community.
With April leading the way, we’re not just improving the way parents find and book care, we’re creating a movement that celebrates families, supports providers, and gives back to the schools that make Austin shine.
