Meet Our Instructors

Hi! My name is Allex Watson, and I am so excited to be part of the Kidtastics team! I have always loved being in the water. I started swimming at a young age and quickly discovered how much joy and confidence it can bring. I joined Kidtastics to continue my passion for helping children feel safe, comfortable, and excited about swimming. My favorite part of teaching is seeing kids grow more confident each lesson and learn to love the water. I can’t wait to make this summer a fun and safe swimming experience for every child I teach!

Hi, I’m Ally Anderson! I’m currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in Physiology at the University of Arizona. I’ve been swimming since childhood and swam competitively in high school. Teaching swim lessons has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life—I'm grateful for the opportunity to help kids build confidence, develop strong swimming skills, and learn water safety in a fun and encouraging environment. Outside of coaching, I enjoy swimming and running—I’m currently training for a marathon! I can’t wait to bring my enthusiasm and experience to every lesson and help swimmers of all levels reach their goals.

Hi! My name is Ariella, and I'm so excited to be part of the Kidtastics team! I am a student at Occidental College studying psychology and kinesiology on the pre-physical therapy track! Growing up in Arizona, I have always loved swimming, and am especially passionate about working with kids to help them feel safe and confident in the water. I strive to create a fun and supportive environment where each child feels comfortable improving their skills in the pool. Outside of swimming, I am a competitive dancer, which taught me the confidence and positivity that I bring into my swim lessons! I can't wait to help each swimmer develop important skills while building a lifelong love for the water!

Ashly DeBlander has her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University and her Masters Degree in Education from Arizona State University. She taught Elementary school for five years and currently works as a Behavior Specialist in the Mesa School District. Ashly has been swimming since she was five years old and belonged to a variety of swim clubs from Illinois to California. Ashly has worked with Kidtastics for 9+ years helping kids love and act safely in the water!

Hi, I’m Brielle! I am so excited to be working with Kidtastics! I have grown up in Scottsdale AZ, and so I have been swimming since before I can remember. During the summer, I spend most of my time either dancing or being in water, whether a pool or my favorite, the lake! Growing up on a boat, learning water sports, has given me the knowledge and the importance of water safety. I cannot wait to share that with young swimmers. Working with kids has always been my passion, and it is my dream to become a pediatric OT! I am looking forward to sharing my love of swimming with kids while creating a fun and supportive environment to help them feel confident in the water!

Carter Henkel is born and raised in Gilbert, AZ. She is currently a student at the University of Arizona majoring in elementary education. Swimming has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. She started competitively swimming at a young age and was on her high school varsity swim team all four years. Over the past couple of years, she has worked as a swim instructor for different teams in Gilbert and loves it more than anything. Her passion is to work with kids and to help make a difference in their lives. She is excited to be apart of the Kidtastics team and looks forward to helping teach kids water safety and swim this summer.

Hi! My name is Carter Howell, and I’m a first-year psychology student at Northern Arizona University. I’m so excited to be working at Kidtastics as a swim instructor because I love helping kids learn, grow, and gain confidence. For me, teaching swimming is about more than just skills. It’s about creating a safe, fun, and encouraging environment where kids feel proud of their progress. I’m especially passionate about water safety and helping each child build confidence at their own pace. I can’t wait to meet everyone and make swimming a positive experience!

Hi, my name is Chloe! I am currently working on a bachelor's in psychology at Northern Arizona University. I have been in swim lessons for as long as I can remember, and I was on a competitive swim team in high school. I have taught lessons since 2022 and I have loved every day of it. Working with children has given me so much purpose in life, and to see the smiles on my students faces when they can swim and float all by themselves is all the reward I need! When I'm not teaching lessons I love to paint and sing, and I can't wait to bring the fun filled learning of swim lessons to your children!

Hi, I’m Chloe Herron! I’m studying Nursing at Northern Arizona University. Swimming has been a big part of my life! Sharing my love for the water with others has been an incredible experience, and I enjoy helping swimmers of all levels feel confident and safe. When I’m not at the pool, I love spending time with friends and going on outdoor adventures. I’m excited to make lessons fun and help everyone reach their full potential in and out of the water!

Hello! My name is Emilee Riley. I am a student at GCU studying Forensic Science! I am from California and previously worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor there for around 5 years! I have always loved the water, and over the years, that love has grown into a passion for teaching and helping others feel confident and comfortable while swimming. I enjoy working with children of all ages and love seeing their progress as they build new skills and gain confidence in the water. I’m excited to help swimmers grow their skills while making this summer fun and safe!

Hi, I’m Hailey Navarrete! I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I am currently attending Northern Arizona University to get my degree in nursing. Swim has been a huge part of my life! I’ve had the opportunity to be part of my school's varsity swim team and compete at the state level. I’ve been teaching swim lessons for 2 years now and have loved every minute of it. I’m super excited to be a part of the Kidtastics team!

Jolie Bentley was born in Tampa, FL and moved to Arizona to attend college at Arizona State University. She is currently studying Business Entrepreneurship. She has been swimming since she learned to walk, and her passion for swimming led her to become a lifeguard and a swim instructor. She is very passionate about teaching young children how to swim, and is very excited to be apart of the Kidtastics team!

Hi, I’m Katie. This will be my fourth summer coaching swim team and stroke classes, and my second teaching private lessons. I’m also a certified lifeguard. I have loved swimming from the time I was little, and I enjoy helping kids love it too! I volunteer at church camp and find the kids appreciate my patient but fun manner. My favorite things to do are theater, singing and baking. I also enjoy hiking and paddle boarding. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to work with your little ones!

Hi, I'm Kaylee! Swimming has always been an important part of my life and I look forward to teaching your children! I grew up in Scottsdale, AZ, and am grateful to have been part of my Varsity High School Swim Team, including qualifying for State with my relay teams. I have been working as a swim coach for the last two years, and Lifeguarding. Swimming is such an important life skill and a great way to safely have fun with friends. I look forward to teaching your children this summer. Let's swim like a big fish!

Hello, my name is Kyra! I was born in Arizona. I have lived in Phoenix, Goodyear, Chandler and I am now in Tucson. I love swimming, reading, writing and listening to music. I have been swimming since I was old enough to do parent child classes. I have been in either swim lessons or on a swim team for about 11 years. I have been teaching swim lessons for about three years, I was also a Lifeguard for about the same time. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a child who was afraid of the water take the steps towards becoming a confident swimmer!

Hi! My name is Lauren Ahearn, and I’m so excited to be part of the team! I am currently a student at Bates College and am studying to become veterinarian, as well as being a student athlete on the Bates Swimming & Diving team. I’ve always loved being in the water and have been swimming competitively since I was 7 years old. I have experience working with swimmers of all ages and skill levels, and I’m passionate about helping others build confidence and feel safe in the water. My goal is to create a fun, positive environment where swimmers can learn at their own pace while developing strong technique and a love for swimming.

Hi! My name is Lilli, I’m going into my 3rd year at GCU and I’m majoring in elementary education! I have discovered a love for children and their way of understanding the world. I love workign with all aged children. I have swam for many years and have a love for the water. I joined the Kidtastics team to continue my passion working with children. I am looking forward to help teach children to be confident and safe swimmers, and most of all to love the water. I’m so excited for summer!

Hi, I’m Sam! I’m currently a student at Northern Arizona University pursuing a career in finance. I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and spent three years coaching gymnastics before joining Kidtastics. Growing up in Arizona, I’ve always loved being in and around the water, and I also work as a lifeguard with Kidtastics. One of my favorite parts of teaching swim lessons is watching swimmers gain confidence as they learn new skills and become more comfortable in the water.

Stacey Peed has her Bachelor's degree in Health Education from Northern Arizona University and her Master's degree in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix. Stacey has been teaching physical education and coaching swimming, cross country, volleyball, and track and field for over 20 years. Currently, Stacey is teaching high school physical education and health at a private school in Scottsdale. Stacey has a passion for teaching children of all ages. In her free time, Stacey enjoys spending time with her two daughters, camping, and working out. Stacey is excited to be a part of the Kidtastics team. She is excited to help teach children how to swim and be safe in the pool this summer!

I am 29 years old. I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor in Science in Childhood Education. I am currently a Preschool teacher. I have been working with children for over seven years. I have a passion for teaching and I love being in the water. I grew up swimming in the ocean in Maui, Hawaii. I have always loved swimming. I swam on the swim team in High school. I am so excited to be apart of the Kidtastics team!

Hi! My name is Taydem! Since I can remember, I spent every summer in the pool! I love being around kids and I love that I have the opportunity to assist children in learning to swim. Swimming is such a valuable skill and a necessity here in Phoenix due to the number of pools in the valley. Teaching swim lessons is not only so enjoyable, but also super rewarding! I'm super excited to be a swim teacher at Kidtastics!