Meet Our Instructors

Hi! My name is Alexi Garza and I am so excited to be part of the Kidstastics team. I was born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona and am currently pursuing a degree in chemistry at Northern Arizona University. I have been swimming competitively since middle school and am super excited to share my knowledge with children in a safe and fun environment. In my free time, I love spending time with my family, hiking, cooking, or even staying indoors with a nice movie. I am eager to start this summer off in the water and teach some amazing kids how to swim!

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.

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 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 Emma and I absolutely love swimming! I have hundreds of hours teaching kids to swim, and I try to do it in the most fun and safe way possible! I am currently going to optometry school at Midwestern University and have my bachelors in microbiology. I love being outdoors whether it be hiking, swimming, paddle-boarding, or playing sports. I am hoping to help kids learn to enjoy the water this summer while also being safe!

My name is Jasmin Rimes and I'm beyond excited to join the Kidtastics team! I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I have been teaching swimming lessons on-and-off for 20+ years. As a former competitive swimmer, I view the water not only as a fantastic cardiovascular exercise , but as a relaxing and fun activity for all ages! Teaching swim safety has been a personal mission of mine for the majority of my life; as I find it necessary to help families prevent accidents in the water, while having fun and learning proper stroke mechanics. When I'm not teaching or doing laps in the pool, I enjoy traveling to new cities, singing at karaoke/ open mic nights, writing music, playing guitar, watching football, or just hanging out with my 3 cats and family at home. I look forward to helping your kiddos achieve their goals and boost their confidence in the swimming pool!

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. I have been coaching swim team and stroke classes heading into my 3rd year. I’m excited to help teach kids how to swim one-on-one this year and lifeguard too. I have loved swimming from the time I was little and look forward to helping kids love it too. I volunteer at church camp and find the kids appreciate my patient but fun manner. I spend much of my time acting with my school’s theater program and also enjoy playing tennis, 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!

Hello! I’m Kayla! My love for the water started when I jumped into a pool at just two years old and taught myself how to swim, and I’ve been captivated by it ever since. I was on a swim team and have been teaching swim lessons for about four years now. I absolutely adore working with kids, especially when I can share my passion for the water with them. My goal is not just to teach them how to swim but to show them that the water can be a safe and enjoyable place, all while maintaining good boundaries, of course. I would describe my teaching style as calm and gentle; I know when to encourage kids to push themselves, but I always take a patient approach. In addition to my wonderful job teaching swim, I’m a fitness enthusiast and have taken up bodybuilding this past year. I also work part-time at a dental office and run my own photography business—each of these pursuits is something I’m passionate about, but teaching swim is definitely my favorite. On top of all that, I’m a full-time student studying dental hygiene, which will help me achieve my dream of living as close to the ocean as possible. I can’t imagine anything better than being surrounded by the water 24/7!

Hello, my name is Ocean. With a name like mine, it was only natural for me to develop a passion for spending time in the water. My love for swimming began when I joined my neighborhood's swim team at a young age. Since then, keeping myself out of the water has been nearly impossible. These days, I spend my free time swimming in creeks, rivers, and lakes. I love sharing my passion for water with kids and teaching them that swimming can be safe and fun. I look forward to helping kids develop a passion for swimming and water safety. I have been working with children since I was thirteen years old and can't wait to continue!

Hi, I’m Sam! I’m currently a student at Northern Arizona University, working toward my dream of becoming a dermatologist. I’ve always loved working with kids—I was a gymnastics coach for three years and have been lifeguarding for over a year. Growing up in Arizona, I’ve spent a lot of time around water, and I’m excited to help kids feel safe and confident in it. I’m so happy to be working with Kidtastics to help teach swim classes and create a fun, encouraging learning environment!

Hey there, I'm Shaun. Through my experience with swimming, including competing at the state level, I have developed a great passion for coaching, in particular. Seeing my students light up with pride and happiness as they improve in the water is what drives me every day. Instilling in them a love for swimming and helping them realize their potential, both in and out of the pool, is incredibly rewarding to me. My ultimate dream? To become a collegiate swim coach. I want to continue this journey of shaping young swimmers and helping them reach their highest potential.

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!