Please join us as we celebrate our amazing Pittsville Elementary and Middle School Coaches with their Coach Spotlight! In the photo, from left to right, are Paula Morris, Lois Hartstein, Carla Owens, Terri Alexander, and Martha Schworn. Their energy, passion, and dedication to serving girls in their community is outstanding and deeply appreciated.

Lois, Carla, and Terri’s GOTRGC journey began in our spring season of 2018; Paula joined in 2023, and Martha joined this year in Fall 2025! We want to say thank you to our coaches for making a positive impact on the next generation, and for ensuring their team is happy and confident. Read their spotlight answers below!

1. What drew you to the program? 

Paula Morris: I have a passion for empowering young people. Women United helped me find a path to do that through GOTR!

Lois Hartstein: I had the privilege of witnessing the positive outcomes of a GOTR program in a small rural school in Delaware. When asked what programs I thought would be best for this area of Maryland, I immediately recommended GOTR. It was not available on the shore prior to this time. 

Carla Owens: I was asked to attend an event where Girls on the Run was featured, and was drawn in immediately to the core principles; including standing up for self and others, embracing differences, nurturing our emotional and physical health, recognizing our power, and being a good member of a team. Being a part of a group that instills these values at an early age was a huge draw!

Terri Alexander: I did not know anything about GOTR. My morning workout group invited me to help with an afterschool running program for girls. I am so glad I said “Yes”.

Martha Schworn: Caring Coach Carla and I were in a meeting at the end of last school year, and she told me all about it. This sounded exactly like something that I “needed” to do. 

2. Why do you think it’s important for girls today to have access to this program?

Paula Morris: I love seeing the team come together, supporting one another. Young people, especially young women, need the skills Girls on the Run and Heart and Sole teach.

Lois Hartstein: While it has always been a challenging time for girls of these ages in school, it is intensified with social media pressures today. The tools presented in the GOTR curriculum not only resonate with the girls, but also help immensely to navigate through tough years. I have often wished it was available when I was going through middle school. 

Carla Owens: I think working with girls, learning together, and instilling the above values is so important in helping to create the future leaders of our world. I have seen so many girls who have grown and developed self-confidence through the program.

Terri Alexander: I enjoy watching the girls connect to the weekly lessons and learn to apply them to their daily lives. It is rewarding.

Martha Schworn: This program has everything the girls love and need: making new friends, talking out their feelings, being silly, creating goals, feeling strong, and feeling loved. :)

3. What is a fun memory you’d love to share?

Paula Morris: During our practice 5K the first year, one of the girls broke down in tears. “My head hurts, my tummy hurts, my feet hurt,” she cried. I got her seated and calmed down. Then I explained she only had one more lap to go. “Oh,” she said as she hopped up and ran at full speed to complete the 5k with a huge grin on her face the whole time!

Lois Hartstein: In the Heart and Sole program, we had a girl that was shy and initially hesitated to interact with the other girls, or share anything with the group. It was amazing to watch the transformation weekly as she began to blossom and really enjoyed herself.  After the 5K in Baltimore, there was a DJ playing music and she was “dancing like nobody was watching” and had pure joy and confidence in the smile on her face! This program was life changing for her!! 

Carla Owens: How do I pick from all the amazing memories?!?!?  Maybe because it is the most recent (it just happened this week) but one of my favorite memories is seeing the girls complete their practice 5K.  Many of the girls think they cannot do it when they hear how long it is, but seeing them finish, and then seeing them cheer on their teammates is always so fulfilling!  Our girls have done some pretty cool things from helping people finish their last loops, to creating a cheer tunnel for them to finish through all on their own. Oh, and I *always*  love seeing current or former girls at local 5Ks! 

Terri Alexander: I think it’s the overall memory of spending time with the girls that makes me smile. Our end of the season celebration is great fun!  

Martha Schworn: Since this is new to me and not a whole lot of time together, I have one special memory. While practicing the 5K, there was one young girl struggling to complete her final four laps. One of her teammates ran out on the track, grabbed her hand, and she ran alongside her. THEN, the rest of the girls ran out too!! Someone bring me a tissue.

Wow, we're so happy to read their stories, and read about the positive impact GOTRGC programming brings to their teams. Huge thanks to our Pittsville GOTR and H&S Coaches for their dedication and support!

Are you feeling inspired to coach a team? Visit https://www.pinwheel.us/volunteer/signup/Spr26NEWCOACHGOTRGC for more information today!