Super Coach Class of 2024 Spotlight: Florida
Over the next several weeks we will be highlighting the incoming class of Super Coaches for the 2024-25 school year by state. To kick us off we have tw
PlayVS is excited to welcome two exceptional educators and esports enthusiasts from Florida to the Super Coach program for the 2024-2025 school year. Hailing from different backgrounds and teaching disciplines, Karen Ashe and Mason Corbin are both driven by a shared passion for growing esports in schools. Here’s a closer look at their stories and what makes them stand out as leaders in the esports community.
Karen Ashe
Role: Visual Art Teacher & Head Esports Coach
School: Windermere High School, Orange County Public Schools
Karen Ashe is entering her seventh year in education, teaching visual art at Orange County Public Schools. At Windermere High School, she teaches two-dimensional studio art classes at various levels, but her role extends beyond the classroom as she leads the school’s esports program.
Originally from Clifton Park, New York, Karen found her way into the PlayVS Super Coach program after the PlayVS team visited Windermere for Career Day in Spring 2024. "When PlayVS visited and recommended that I check out the program, I spoke with the team about the opportunities. I realized this was a perfect fit for me.".
As a Super Coach, Karen is looking forward to helping other schools develop their esports programs and building connections with fellow coaches who share her enthusiasm for competitive gaming. "My favorite thing about esports is getting kids connected to a fun school activity and the camaraderie it creates amongst the players,".
Outside of the classroom and gaming arena, Karen brings an unexpected skill to the table—she was a competitive synchronized figure skater for the University of Delaware!
Mason Corbin
Role: Business Teacher & Esports Coach
School: Doctor Phillips High School
Mason Corbin may be newer to teaching—this is his third year—but he’s no stranger to the world of esports. Raised in Maine before moving to Florida in 2014, Mason now teaches business classes and coaches the esports team at Doctor Phillips High School.
His journey into the Super Coach program was inspired by a desire to grow esports at the school level and diversify the competitive titles available to students. "Esports gives us an opportunity to show there’s more to gaming than just ‘wasting time.’ I want to help grow the program not just at more schools but also in terms of the games students can compete in."
A long-time esports fan, Mason has been following the professional scene since 2013, when he watched SK Telecom T1 and Faker claim their first world championship title in League of Legends. He looks forward to expanding the esports program at his school and helping other schools in the area join the competitive scene.
Both Karen and Mason bring unique strengths and perspectives to the Super Coach program, and we can’t wait to see the impact they’ll have on the growth of esports in their schools and beyond.