meet our team
At Alyssa's Aquatics, our mission is to teach swimming in an enthusiastic and relaxing atmosphere, while still emphasizing the crucial importance of water safety. All of our lesson plans are specially tailored with each individual students' needs in mind, allowing students to experience significant improvements with each and every lesson as they push towards their own personal goals. To ensure the best lessons on Eastern Long Island, our instructors have been hand-picked from the most qualified swim instructors across the country.
All Alyssa's Aquatics Swim Instructors are:
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Trained with a blend of Swim Instruction Programs, hand picking the best techniques and methodology from each program - including: Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, Infant Swimming Resource, YMCA Swim Instruction, Camp Programs, Competitive Coaching, and more!
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CPR/AED and First Aid Certified
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Insured
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Experienced in working with students of all ages and skill levels (from 6 months to 86 years old!)
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Water enthusiasts outside of work
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Positive, patient, friendly, responsible, and FUN!
Alyssa's Aquatics Swim Instructors are able to custom tailor lessons to meet any special needs. Please let us know any additional requirements or goals you may have at the time of scheduling so we can be sure to pair you with the best suited instructor.
Jenna
Lead Instructor & Office Manager
Available June 25 - September 1
(Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
A local Long Islander born and raised in Westhampton, our Head Instructor Jenna has been a key component of Alyssa’s Aquatics since 2013. Jenna is a true teacher by nature, teaching swim lessons since 2003, and helping students with autism, dyslexia, and other special needs thrive in the classroom as a school teacher since 2007. Jenna has always had a passion for the water, swimming by the time she was two, snorkeling and knee boarding in the Florida Keys by five, and obtaining her SCUBA certification by the age of twelve. Her teenage years consisted of countless state level swimming competitions and national level synchronized swimming meets. During her undergraduate years at James Madison University, Jenna was a pivotal member of the women's water polo team. Currently, Jenna competes as a master synchronized swimmer, where her team has won gold medals at multiple National competitions! In addition to being a Water Safety Instructor, Jenna holds many other certifications, including CPR, AED, First Aid, PADI Open Water Scuba Diver, Ocean Mermaid, Free diver, and FinFun Mermaid University Instructor. Jenna completed her B.S. in Early Childhood Education, as well as her M.A. in Education with a minor in Special Education and a concentration in Autism. Additionally, she holds the following academic teaching credentials: Multiple Subject K-6, Early Childhood Education, Math Authorization, and Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist.
When she’s not in the pool this summer, you will most likely find her helping with all your scheduling needs, as she is also our Office Manager! When not working, you can find her scuba diving, or curled up with her family and animals. With almost twenty years of swim lesson experience, Jenna has seen it all, successfully teaching thousands of students of all ages and abilities to love and appreciate the water. Jenna especially loves working with first time swimmers of all ages (starting as young as six months old), as well as students with special needs. Jenna is also particularly enthusiastic about coaching adults, leading water aerobics classes, and teaching mermaid lessons!
Juliet
Swim Instructor
Available June 27 - Labor Day
(Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday)
Born and raised in Queens, Juliet started lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons in 2016, and joined the Alyssa’s Aquatics Team in 2019. Juliet has always been a water enthusiast, learning to swim before they could walk, and earning their PADI Jr Open Water Diver certification at just ten years old (the youngest age possible). After high school, they played college water polo and coached a local competitive swim team. In addition to being a certified Water Safety Instructor, they hold certifications as a PADI Divemaster, PADI Mermaid Instructor, and PADI Freediver. When they are not teaching lessons, you can often find them swimming in one of Florida’s many springs, usually fashioned in a mermaid tail. Juliet has a vast aquatic skill set and can teach lessons to all ages and abilities. In addition to mermaid lessons, Juliet loves working with our youngest swimmers (starting at six months) and is especially passionate about helping shy or anxious swimmers build their confidence in the water. Juliet creatively imagines clever games to captivate fearful young students and has them practicing key safety skills before they even realize they are learning!
Sheila
Swim Instructor
Available June 24 - August 21
(Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Available August 22 - Labor Day
(Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
From Stafford, VA, Sheila is back for her second summer with Alyssa’s Aquatics. Sheila has always been a talented swimmer, joining her local summer swim team at just six years old. She continued to improve each year, quickly advancing to a more competitive year-round swim team in middle school. In addition to being a certified Water Safety Instructor, she also holds Lifeguard, CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications. When she is not in the pool, you can find her studying for her nursing degree or baking delicious treats for the Alyssa’s Aquatics team. Sheila can teach our youngest swimmers up to our elite athletes, but she especially loves working with students developing their strokes and refining their technique. Sheila’s cool and easy-going personality helps her connect with students and encourage quick growth and progress, all while having fun.
Isabelle
Swim Instructor
Available June 24 - Labor Day
(Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
From Richmond, VA, Isabelle has been teaching swim lessons since 2016. Isabelle has loved the water since she learned to swim at two years old. She spent everyday in the pool, participated in the summer swim team, and by the time she turned eight, she joined a year-round competitive swim team. Being a gifted swimmer, Isabelle went on to compete at the varsity level, and had the honor of serving as team captain while winning the Virginia State Championship! Isabelle has extensive coaching experience, working for a summer league for five years, coaching varsity swimming for one year, and coaching the Richmond Special Olympics Swim Team for another two years. Isabelle loves helping each swimmer modify and perfect their strokes, allowing them to also be more comfortable in the water as a result. Through the Special Olympics, she became passionate about working with children with autism, leading her to an internship at the Faison Center in Richmond. Isabelle can teach a wide variety of students, from our youngest swimmers to more established athletes, but her favorite lessons are with students working on stroke development, technique refinement, and building endurance.
Natalie
Swim Instructor
Available June 24 - July 31
(Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Joining us from Harrisonburg, VA where she currently attends James Madison University, Natalie has been a swim instructor since 2019. Natalie was destined to love the water, coming from an entire family of lifeguards and swim instructors. Natalie learned great swim technique from a young age and joined the swim team at just five years old. Her favorite stroke is butterfly! In addition to being a certified Water Safety Instructor, she also holds certifications in CPR, AED, and Lifeguarding. When she is not in the pool, Natalie loves creating art, and spends time drawing and painting nature. Natalie has an upbeat and bubbly personality that keeps her students smiling while she engages them with creative songs and games. Natalie can work with all ages and skill levels, but especially loves working with preschool and elementary school kids.
Gail
Substitute Swim Instructor & Swim Program Consultant
Only available for Substitute Teaching
A true daughter of the beach, Gail has been around the water her whole life. Born and raised locally in the Hamptons, her family spent nearly every day either at the beach or on the boat. Always passionate about educating others, Gail got her first teaching job at sixteen leading the arts program at the Quogue Field Club. She became a certified lifeguard shortly thereafter and began teaching Red Cross Swimming Lessons for the Westhampton Beach Summer Recreation Program throughout her college years, and well beyond. Once she became a mother, Gail trained in the Infant Swimming Resource program to help both her daughters to become water safe babies, and later encouraged them to become national level athletes in both competitive and synchronized swimming. Gail is also a CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Instructor for the American Heart Association. Having her B.S in Home Economics and M.S. in Special Education, Gail taught for thirty years at ESBOCES, including ten years of leading the Early Childhood Education Program. Currently retired in the Florida Keys, Gail spends most of her days snorkeling and volunteering for REEF, an organization centered on preserving the coral reef ecosystem. Gail’s passion for education, combined with her diverse volunteer and professional teaching experience with students of all ages and abilities, make her a huge asset to the Alyssa's Aquatics team. We are very fortunate to have her consultation throughout the season as well as her help to cover end of summer lessons as needed.