Meet Your Instructor

Hi, I’m Callie! I grew up surrounded by water on the Outer Banks and learned to swim at a young age. As a child, I swam competitively on the local swim team and spent my teenage years lifeguarding and teaching American Red Cross WSI swim lessons.

Swimming runs in the family—my mom, known locally on the OBX as “The Swim Lady,” was teaching WSI & ISR long before I followed in her footsteps. I always loved watching the little ones in her lessons and knew I wanted to be part of ISR too.

After graduating from Meredith College, I spent several years working in child-centered roles before becoming certified in ISR in 2018. Teaching infants and young children how to safely and confidently enjoy the water is truly my passion.

There’s nothing more rewarding than watching little swimmers progress from Day 1 to Day 30—gaining confidence, mastering new skills, and discovering their independence in the water. As a mom to two “water babies” myself, I understand how important these milestones are for both children and parents alike!

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FAQs
Is it the baby fat that makes them float?
Actually, the primary factor in a baby’s ability to float is the ability to take air into the lungs. To maintain this access to air, the child must adjust his/her posture. The difference in positioning for an adult can be inches. For a baby, this adjustment is reduced to centimeters. If a child’s body posture is just a few centimeters off, it can make the difference between the face being submerged or the child having access to air.
How can you teach babies and young children to swim?
ISR instructors teach infants to swim by honoring each child's individual strengths and experiences. They understand the fundamentals of the behavioral sciences, child development and of sensori-motor learning as it relates to the acquisition of aquatic survival skills; they use this education to guide each child through the sequence of learning to swim and float.
Are swimming lessons for infants and young children safe?
I can’t speak for all swim lessons, but I can tell you ISR is dedicated to safety and maintaining numerous safety protocols to promote safe lessons. Your child's health and well-being are our highest priority and are closely monitored on a daily basis. In addition, your child's medical and developmental history is a mandatory part of the ISR national registration process, all of which is held strictly confidential. All ISR instructors undergo intensive and rigorous training that far exceeds any other training program of this kind. Each ISR instructor is also required to recertify yearly with emphasis on quality control, safety and lesson efficiency. Your education in the area of aquatic safety for your entire family is an integral part of your child's lessons. You will receive access to the "Parent Resource Guide" to inform you about every aspect of swimming and aquatic safety for infants and children. With research, you will find that ISR is not only the safest survival swimming program but also the most effective for teaching infants and young children.
Can’t babies swim naturally?
Unfortunately, babies cannot naturally swim. If this were the case, there wouldn’t be so many drownings every year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Accident Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1-4 in the United States.

Check my Availability!

(if you don't see any openings send me an email, I don't schedule too far in advance)

Callie's Calendar