Certification and Accreditation

COACH KAREN LAMOREAUX

Any person or facility can administer swim lessons – the instruction is not regulated. Most facilities offer swim lessons conducted by young and inexperienced certified life guards. Lifeguarding and teaching are two very different skills. Ask if the instructors are certified to teach and choose an accredited program. In addition, ask for course descriptions and goals for advancement.

There are 3 programs accredited in the USA and they include the YMCA, American Red Cross (ARC) and Swim America. The YMCA program uses YMCA Certified Swim Instructors.  The American Red Cross uses Water Safety Instructors (WSI) and Swim America offers a variety of coaching certifications under the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA). All three programs measure success with established teaching curriculums and benchmarks for advancement.

Our certifications and accreditation:

• Member of the United States Swim School Association.
• Member of the World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA)
• Member of the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA)
• All coaches are certified in CPR/First Aid
• All coaches complete the Certified Stroke Technician course with ASCA
• All coaches complete the Teaching Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with Swim Lessons University
• Coach Karen Lamoreaux is an ASCA Level II Certified Coach and provides over 200 hours of comprehensive training to all coaches

10 QUESTIONS TO ASK OF A SWIM PROGRAM:

1. What program is taught?
2. What will I/my child learn in the class?
3. Is it accredited?
4. Are the instructors certified to teach?
5. What safety skills are taught in the class?
6. What are the goals for advancement in the program?
7. What is student/instructor ratio?
8. What is the cost for group classes?
9. Are private lessons offered?
10. Are students placed by age or skill level?

• Learning to swim is a critical life skill. It could save your life. It is also so much fun to be comfortable in the water and it opens doors to other enjoyable activities!
• Swim lessons, either in a group or private setting, should focus on safety first, then skills. And the skills should be taught using the proper technique from the very start.
• We do not teach from the deck, we are in the water for the entire lesson.
• Every student deserves dignity and respect regardless of age or skill level. We do not believe in dunking students or pushing them into the water against their will. We will always go underwater with our students until they feel safe doing it on their own.

HEAD COACH & OWNER, KAREN LAMOREAUX

Coach Karen, originally from Chicago, IL. is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor degree in Health Administration. She has been a learn-to swim instructor for nearly 20 years, serving as a former YMCA instructor and American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI). She also served the American Red Cross as a Health and Safety Instructor, providing others with certifications in CPR, First Aid, Disease Transmission, Lifeguarding and Emergency First Response. She is certified as a Swim America Coach by the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA). The certification came after over 100 hours of training and a written exam. Coach Karen is trained to coach all ages, including infant survival starting at 6 months of age. Coach Karen is a mother to two children. Coach Karen is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association, a Certified Stroke Technician, and is working on completing her Level II certification.

COACH TALIA SULLIVAN, Manager of Coaching Education and Compliance

Coach Talia has worked with Coach Karen for over three years. She is a full time student at the University of Central Arkansas, majoring in Public Relations. Talia has over seven years experience caring for children, working for various organizations and families around Central Arkansas. Coach Talia is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association, a Certified Stroke Technician, and is working on completing her Level II certification.

COACH DAVE SWEERE, INDEPENDENT COACH

COACH ANGEL PACHECO, INDEPENDENT COACH

PAM ROSE, BILLING COORDINATOR

Pam is originally from Danville, PA and moved to Little Rock, AR over three years ago. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a Masters in Health Administration. She worked in the health care industry for eight years first as an underwriter for liability policies for large healthcare systems, and later as a government financial reporter for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Pam remembers taking swim lessons at Bucknell University during her youth. She is so grateful for those skills that are still so useful today. Pam married in 2002 and a mother of four.

Coach Kari Anne Servedio, Independent Coach

Coach Dalton JansseN

Coach Chelsea Burnside

Coach HALEY Palanca

Coach Lauren Freeman

All clients are charged an administration fee for each season they are actively swimming. There are 3 seasons in the year: Spring, Summer and Fall. This seasonal fee covers administrative and supply costs. It is charged only once per season regardless of how many classes or lessons are purchased and there is a maximum of $50 per family per term.

If you need to reach the staff via phone, use the hotline at 501-940-4981.

SPRING / FALL (5 week terms)

SUMMER (4 week terms)

Year-Round

SERVICE	DURATION	COST
A La Carte	30 min	$25.00
Consult, w/o Pkg.	30 min	$35.00

All lessons are non-refundable.   All fees must be paid in advance and submitted with registration and release forms.

*A La Carte Lessons
These are lessons purchased individually without the commitment of purchasing a package. When a slot becomes available, the slot is filled by sending an email out to the entire client list. Reservation is first come/first serve by email. A La Carte’s are great for refreshers, getting extra lessons, or working on a particular goal. These lessons are open to all clients and can be used as evaluations for new clients as well.

**Consultations/Evaluations
We offer evaluations and swim consultations for those seeking lessons without a scheduling commitment or who just want feedback or pointers once in a while.

Step 1
To enroll, use the Get Started form. Your information will be sent to our scheduler, Tara, and she will process your request.
Step 2
Once enrolled, the scheduler will send, by email, a welcome packet with everything needed for the first lesson including driving directions and a list of what to bring.
Step 3
Sign the release form in your packet and bring with you to your first lesson.
Step 4
In a separate email from Coach Karen an invoice will arrive. Please remit payment in full by the due date on the invoice. If you have any financial questions, please use the CONTACT FORM on this website.

If you need to reach the staff via phone, use the hotline at 501-940-4981.

• Lessons meet once weekly for 30 minutes
• Home lessons follow the same term schedule

2012 Schedule

Safety Before Skill Co. Swim School leases the facility on an hourly basis, reserving in advance.  The reservation of a swim package secures a regular time slot for the participant. As such, payment is due in full before the first lesson and refunds are not available. Please call coach in the event that a lesson will be missed, 24 hours in advance whenever possible. REVIEW THE PAYMENT AND ATTENDANCE POLICY.

If you need to reach the staff via phone, use the hotline at 501-940-4981.

Group Classes
Make up lessons are NOT available for a missed group lesson, UNLESS the entire class is cancelled. In that case a make-up class is scheduled for the entire group. Individual absences from a class may not be made up. Lessons will be cancelled if: pool temperature is below 80 degrees F, Pool chemicals are not balanced or pool is unsanitary or Coach is ill. In these instances, a make-up lesson will be arranged.

Cancellation Procedures

1. Scheduler will send an email
2. Scheduler will call individual clients for rescheduling