Courtney
Owner / Lead Instructor
As a mom and former educator, I understand that the water can be both fun and scary. From the moment your child arrives at the pool, I’m here to help them feel safe and comfortable so that they can concentrate on swimming.
Our mission at Swim Kids Waco is to help kids learn safety and swimming techniques while having fun. During my 5 years as an instructor and lifeguard at Dolfin Swim School in Dallas (now Emler Swim School), I was able to help many kids on the journey to safety and confidence in the water. This time shaped my child-centered method for swimming education where safety, skill-building and fun are at the forefront. I’m honored to now serve the families of Waco in the same way.
The confidence that comes from learning to swim is an experience no child should miss. And an experience no parent should miss sharing.
Lynsey
Infant Aquatics® Instructor
Lynsey has a love for all things athletic. She coaches volleyball and is enjoying her first year as a swimming instructor. She recently ran in an ultramarathon and wonders if a triathlon may be in her future. Lynsey has three daughters (8, 5 and 2.5) that keep her and her husband, JD, on their toes. She loves the growth process that happens in community, whether that's on a court, in a pool, or on the journey of life.
From a parent:
"I loved that I was able to watch and connect with Lynsey a little during each lesson. I was able to pick up and learn the techniques she used to teach our son to float so we could practice on our own at home. I also gained confidence in allowing my son to "find his float" in the water on his own. The class was a big time commitment, but the peace of mind I have when we are around water is priceless."
Elizabeth
Lead Instructor
Elizabeth was a recreation director for six years at theCENTER, which is actually where we met her. She’s the one who first allowed Swim Kids Waco to use that facility for swimming lessons. So if you’ve taken indoor lessons at theCENTER, you’ve benefited from her in ways you never knew. :) In 2019, she had a daughter and transitioned out of that job, and in January 2021 she joined Swim Kids Waco.
In swim class, Elizabeth balances learning new skills with having fun. She spent every summer growing up in the pool, and now her 2-year-old loves the water too! She likes to share her love of the water and get kids excited about it too. Fun fact: Elizabeth played trumpet in the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band.
From a parent:
"Mrs. Elizabeth was the best part of swimming lessons! She has taught my kids in a few sessions throughout the years. She is patient with the kids but knows how to get them to focus and learn. The skills that my kids have learned from Elizabeth amaze me every week."
Allison
Lead Instructor
Allie started teaching for Swim Kids Waco in the summer of 2021. She loves watching kids gain confidence when swimming and seeing the joy it brings them when they are able to accomplish a new skill. She always has a big smile on her face, as well as some killer lashes. :) She likes helping the students have fun while also learning to swim safely.
When she’s not swimming, Allie loves doing crafts and playing around with her three dogs – Harper, Dallie, and Cooper.
From a parent:
"We loved our awesome instructor, Miss Allie! She was so patient and helpful to both my girls, especially the younger one who struggled so much at the start."
Norah
Lead Instructor
Norah joined a swim team as a young kid in elementary school and swam competitively through 7th grade. Swimming has always been a part of her life, and something her whole family enjoys.
Norah likes making personal connections with each student and watching them learn and grow with each class session. She wants to help kids become more comfortable and confident in the water, while learning life-saving safety skills. Fun fact: Norah’s older sister, Sophia, is an instructor at Swim Kids Waco as well!
From a parent:
"Norah does absolutely AMAZING with all the swimmers. She knows when they just need a little coaching and when they need a reset. She is sweet to the kiddos, even when they are all wild that day. Norah's always providing positive feedback!"
Bailey
Office Assistant
Bailey was a competitive swimmer starting in 3rd grade through high school. But even when she wasn’t racing, she loved having fun in the water, especially outside at the beach or at the lake. Some of her most cherished memories as a kid involve being in the water. When she’s teaching swimming lessons, Bailey aims to create an environment where kids feel safe in the water as they are learning new skills. She loves to celebrate with them all their wins, whether big or small, so they can grow in confidence.
Fun facts: Bailey is a North Carolina native who has traveled to 42 of the 50 states! She’s also an artist and enjoys making jewelry, painting and quilting.
From a parent:
"The best part was the amazing Miss Bailey!!! Awesome attitude and attention to the class as a whole and individually."
Ben
Lead Instructor
Ben was a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor for 10 years. He’s been working and volunteering with kids for the past 14 years, whether at summer camps in Texas or at church in the kids ministry. He and his wife, Casey, have two kids of their own – Abner, 7, and Ellory, 6 – who love to swim. For Ben and his family, Water = Fun! That could be a pool, lake, river or ocean.
He hopes to teach kids that swimming can be safe and fun and that they are capable of being in control while swimming. He wants each kid to feel proud of what they’ve learned on their journey to becoming a better swimmer. Fun fact: Ben and Casey are both Baylor grads and love exploring Waco. When they’re not in the pool, you can find them at parks, local restaurants and community events.
From a parent:
"Mr. Ben is the bomb, and this is the best investment to make in little ones! Mr. Ben was so personable and really built upon our son’s skills each week."
Monica
Swim Instructor
Monica and her brother learned to swim from her mom. She remembers spending hours in the water, practicing and having fun. She’s passed that on to her own two daughters (9 and 6 years old) who have been in the water since they were 3 months old and are now like mermaids! Monica values the discipline of learning a sport like swimming in order to stay healthy in body, mind and soul. She loves how the water makes her feel free and gives her energy. She’s looking forward to equipping kids with a lifelong skill that they can use all their lives!
Fun fact: Monica is our first bilingual instructor! If your kids are native Spanish speakers, she can teach them to swim using Spanish.
From a parent:
”My twins LOVE Mrs. Monica! When we walk in the doors for lessons, they start saying, ‘I swim with Mrs. Monica!’ with a smile on their faces. She's great at pushing them and also being very nurturing.”
Morgan
Swim Instructor
Morgan grew up as a competitive swimmer before transitioning to gymnastics and dance as a teenager. She coached gymnastics and eventually ran programs within the gym where she coached. Now, Morgan is combining her coaching experience with her love of swimming to join the Swim Kids Waco team as an instructor. She has a daughter who will turn 1 this spring (and who is already an Infant Aquatics graduate!). She knows the importance of water safety and wants her students to feel happy and confident in the water.
Fun fact: Morgan is absolutely crazy about hippos, and her family is all in for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
From a parent:
”Mrs. Morgan was AMAZING!”
Miela
Swim Instructor
Miela has worked with kids through her church and small groups for several years. She enjoys the art of swimming and jumps at every opportunity to get in the pool. Miela is excited to join the Swim Kids Waco team and help others learn to love swimming too. While teaching kids to take care of themselves in the water, she hopes that her students find the joy of swimming and experience fun in the water.
Fun fact: Miela loves the ocean and all sea creatures, and she loves to travel. She just moved back to Texas after living in Japan!
Anahi
Swim Instructor
Anahi (pronounced ahna-E) is a Waco native and MCC grad, currently attending TSTC. She’s been involved with kids of all ages, from helping to raise her younger sisters to working at children’s church camps and leading in youth group. She’s excited to work with kids in the water and teach them to become independent swimmers who can enjoy the water without fear. Anahi’s loves the calm feeling of simply floating in the water as a way to find peace amid the daily hustle and bustle. For fun, Anahi enjoys theater, art and music.
From a parent:
”We have been really impressed with both teachers and the program! (Mrs. Morgan and Miss Anahi) Can't wait for our kiddos to be swimming all summer long!”
Lahana
Swim Instructor
Lahana (pronounced LAH-nah) learned how to swim in Lake Waco! She has many siblings and is the oldest in her family. She loves how swimming combines exercise, safety and fun all in one. Before moving to Waco as an adult and joining the Swim Kids Waco team, Lahana taught swimming lessons in another city and says it was her favorite job! She likes helping kids face their fears with courage and wants them to feel a sense of empowerment that will carry over beyond swimming lessons. For fun, Lahana likes to cook, try new foods, draw and go on adventures with her sphynx cat, Aspen.
From a parent:
”Our kids adore Miss Lahana! They’ve greatly progressed and gained so much confidence under her instruction.”
Charlie
Swim Instructor
Charlie is originally from England! She grew up in a coastal town and learned to swim before she even learned to crawl. She was a youth worker in the UK and taught four of her nephews how to swim and surf before moving to the US four years ago. She loves feeling weightless in the water and wants to help kids experience joy while swimming as well as gain strength and confidence in the water.
Fun fact: Charlie is fluent in Polish and British sign language and is learning Korean, Spanish and American Sign Language!
From a parent:
”Charlie is really good with our son, even when he gets scared.”
Courtney K.
Swim Instructor
Courtney is excited to be a part of the Swim Kids Waco team. With four years’ experience in competitive swimming and a love for all things water, she is a firm believer in kids feeling confident and safe in the water. Courtney is also a local schoolteacher and loves creating a positive and supportive environment where every kid can reach their full potential, whether in the water or in the classroom. In the water, she meets each child where they’re at to create lovers of swimming.
Outside of lessons, you’ll find Courtney spending time outdoors, on a run, or at one of Waco’s many coffee shops. Courtney is dedicated to promoting water safety and fun, ensuring that every student not only becomes a better swimmer but also has the confidence to swim anywhere!
Brandon
Swim Instructor
Brandon is a Baylor business student who started swimming competitively at the age of 4! From summer league to club teams and high school swim team, he’s done it all. He coached for six years and taught private lessons for five years before joining the Swim Kids Waco team in 2024. He likes to help kids have fun in swim class and also develop that competitive spirit when it comes to swimming. His favorite thing about the water? If you move correctly, you can go really FAST!
Fun fact: Brandon still closes his eyes whenever he jumps in the water (even with goggles on!). He loves to cook and be outside with his dog, Penny.
From a parent:
”My children learned real skills quickly with these lessons. Their teacher, Brandon, was highly skilled and great at building the kids up in skill level. Mr. Brandon is an excellent teacher, and my kids really connected to his teaching style and understood his explanations.”
Mariah
Jr Swim Instructor
Mariah has volunteered with the kids ministry at her church on Sunday mornings since she was young and is now excited to teach kids how to swim as a junior instructor! She loves making memories with friends and family in the water and wants to equip kids to have fun and be skilled in the water as well.
Fun fact: Mariah plays the violin, acts on stage and loves to read.
Kathryn
Jr Swim Instructor
Kathryn has spent her Sunday mornings volunteering in the preschool classes at her church and many evenings/weekends babysitting in her free time. She joins the Swim Kids Waco team as a junior instructor and hopes to help kids develop a love for the water and experience how fun the water can be. She enjoys swimming as a sport and likes learning fun tricks in the water.
Fun fact: Kathryn loves to travel and learn about new places. Her favorite place she’s been is Scotland.
Heather
Office Manager
Heather joined the Swim Kids Waco team as the office manager in March 2022. She was previously the managing editor of the WACOAN magazine, where she worked for 13 years. She and her husband, Jonatan, are both military brats and Baylor grads who now call Waco home. They have three daughters who have grown to love the water, thanks to Swim Kids Waco!
Heather has been a volunteer with the kids ministry at her church for many years, and she likes going on family vacations to the lake in Michigan. However, you won’t find her in the pool teaching your children how to swim. Instead you’ll likely receive emails or texts from her, as she handles the administrative side of SKW. For fun, Heather loves reading and playing card games. She’s also a podcast junkie.
Erin
Business Manager
Erin is a mom to four kids, who have all been in lessons with Swim Kids Waco. While her kids were empowered to become skilled swimmers, Erin said she was equipped by Swim Kids Waco as a parent to come alongside each of her kids in their unique swimming journeys. Erin came on staff as the office manager in 2019. After a brief hiatus, we’re happy to have her back now as the business manager! Although she’s not an in-the-water member of the team, she loves being able to take care of things behind the scenes so that your family can have as smooth of an experience as possible.