Instructors
Lisa Cook
Lisa Cook, founder of KidSwim, is passionate about the water, and a child’s place in it. An avid life-long swimmer, Lisa has spent more than 20 years teaching children about water safety and swimming skills. She has taught children from coast to coast, and internationally while living in Japan.
A competitive swimmer in her youth, Lisa honed her teaching technique as a YMCA instructor and Aquatics Program Director in Los Angeles and added a specialty as the aquatic venue director for the Summer Special Olympics at UCLA. She has been a swim coach for Masters and Youth swim competitions, and has organized and directed community service swim programs for underprivileged youth in cooperation with the YMCA.
Lisa founded KidSwim in 2001 with the vision of offering a developmental, age- and skills-appropriate program. Believing that water is the least discriminating forum for a child’s sports activity, she has seen that any child can swim, no matter their age, size or physical ability. Her experience has shown that a developmental swimming program is successful for every child, including those with special needs. Lisa’s reward is seeing the joy that every child gets from accomplishing a new goal in the water. She knows this is a priceless gift.
Tracy Herdman
Tracy Herdman is a 25 year old recent graduate of UCLA with a degree in Sociology. Her love for the water came from growing up steps away from the ocean in Laguna Beach. Her knowledge of the water and ocean has come from many years as a competitive water polo player, swimmer and life guard. Teaching swimming has become a passion for Tracy, and she truly enjoys every aspect of it.
My own words, “There are many rewarding aspects of being a teacher. Seeing the joy on a child’s face when he/she learns to swim or master a new technique is the greatest reward of all. Coming out of the water, they suddenly realize ‘I DID IT!’ They flash a huge smile and can’t wait to share with friends and family. I consider it a privilege to be a part of that joy and contribute to a child’s life in such a positive way.”
Marissa Hyman
Marissa Hyman is a 23 year old student in Los Angeles, currently receiving her degree in eduation. She grew up in Manhattan Beach, just a few miles from the ocean, which she says is where she first fell in love with swimming. Marissa has been a top notch instructor with Kidswim for three years now and has been teaching for over six years total. In her own words “By far the most rewarding part of teaching is building trust and a strong bond with my students and their families. Being in touch with my students’ needs is what helps me to be a patient and attentive teacher.”
Valentine Reitblat
Valentine Reitblat is 29 and has been teaching with Kidswim for three years. Having started swimming at age 4 and being crowned “swim princess” of her third grade class have proved fortuitous as Valentine feels that teaching swimming is what she loves to do most. In her own words Valentine says “I love the challenge of teaching kids to swim. When they realize that they’re actually swimming is the best part, also seeing how they are progressing; starting from barely blowing bubbles to becoming water safe is an incredible experience to be a part of. I really love what I do and I believe that is what makes me a great teacher. I love being in the water and I love working with kids.” Needless to say, we feel so fortunate to have Valentine as part of our team!
