Our Staff
Meet the swim team.
All Sailfish swim instructors are First Aid/CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) certified, for which they received individualized training based on guidelines and updates from the American Heart Association.
Sailfish swim instructors also receive sexual harassment training, mandated reporter training and undergo mandatory background checks.
Our instructors are also trained in infant self-rescue, and many are lifeguard-certified.
Derek
Location: L.A.
Hi, I’m Derek! I’m the manager at Sailfish’s L.A. location. I primarily work out of our North Hollywood Pool but occasionally give travel lessons. I’ve been working in aquatics for almost a decade, and I’ve been at Sailfish for over a year. I’m also a voiceover artist, and my hobbies are hiking, rock climbing, skiing and video games.
Hi, I’m Derek! I’m the manager at Sailfish’s L.A. location. I primarily work out of our North Hollywood Pool but occasionally give travel lessons. I’ve been working in aquatics for almost a decade, and I’ve been at Sailfish for over a year. I’m also a voiceover artist, and my hobbies are hiking, rock climbing, skiing and video games.
Tori
Manager - All Florida Locations
Hi, I'm Tori! I have been in the aquatics industry since 2015, teaching swim lessons and obtaining my lifeguard instructor certification. I was also a competitive swimmer in high school. Most recently, I earned my bachelor's in Marine Biology and Theatre from Eckerd College. I have an incredible passion and appreciation for the water, and I hope I can inspire my students to feel the same!
Hi, I'm Tori! I have been in the aquatics industry since 2015, teaching swim lessons and obtaining my lifeguard instructor certification. I was also a competitive swimmer in high school. Most recently, I earned my bachelor's in Marine Biology and Theatre from Eckerd College. I have an incredible passion and appreciation for the water, and I hope I can inspire my students to feel the same!
Kendra
Noho Pool
Hi, my name is Kendra and I’ve been teaching swim lessons since 2019! I grew up competing on a swim team, and it became a passion for me that I wanted to turn into a career. I’m a college student studying business administration, and hope to own my own swim school one day. I truly cherish the wonderful relationships I develop with my students and their families.
Hi, my name is Kendra and I’ve been teaching swim lessons since 2019! I grew up competing on a swim team, and it became a passion for me that I wanted to turn into a career. I’m a college student studying business administration, and hope to own my own swim school one day. I truly cherish the wonderful relationships I develop with my students and their families.
Felicia
St. Petersburg Pool and Travel Lessons in St. Petersburg
Hello everyone, my name is Felicia! I’ve been a swim instructor since 2022, first with the YMCA and now with Sailfish. I’m based down in St Petersburg, Florida and I’m so excited to meet you!
Hello everyone, my name is Felicia! I’ve been a swim instructor since 2022, first with the YMCA and now with Sailfish. I’m based down in St Petersburg, Florida and I’m so excited to meet you!
Ali
West L.A Pool and Travel Lessons in West LA
Hi, I'm Ali! I've been swimming with Sailfish for over two years. I've loved the water since I was a baby, and did swimming and water polo in high school. My favorite part of lessons is when students get over any fears they have about the water, and learn to love swimming too. I look forward to swimming with you!
Hi, I'm Ali! I've been swimming with Sailfish for over two years. I've loved the water since I was a baby, and did swimming and water polo in high school. My favorite part of lessons is when students get over any fears they have about the water, and learn to love swimming too. I look forward to swimming with you!
Sharon
Winter Garden Pool
Hi, I’m Sharon and I started teaching swim lessons when I was in high school. I swam competitively from ages 5-20 and I continue to swim regularly for fun and exercise. I love being in and around water and it is my joy to help others learn to swim and feel comfortable in the water. My husband and I have been married for 24 years and we have 3 sons that attend UCF.
Hi, I’m Sharon and I started teaching swim lessons when I was in high school. I swam competitively from ages 5-20 and I continue to swim regularly for fun and exercise. I love being in and around water and it is my joy to help others learn to swim and feel comfortable in the water. My husband and I have been married for 24 years and we have 3 sons that attend UCF.
Karissa
Travel Lessons: Agoura Hills
Hi, I’m Karissa! I started swimming from a young age and instantly fell in love with the water. By 7, I was swimming competitively. I swam and played water polo all through high school. Over the summers, I was an L.A. County Junior Lifeguard. I’m a college student studying speech-language pathology. When I’m not in the water, you can find me in the kitchen whipping up a new recipe or hiking a new trail with my family. I love to travel and hope to one day be able to see the whole world!
Hi, I’m Karissa! I started swimming from a young age and instantly fell in love with the water. By 7, I was swimming competitively. I swam and played water polo all through high school. Over the summers, I was an L.A. County Junior Lifeguard. I’m a college student studying speech-language pathology. When I’m not in the water, you can find me in the kitchen whipping up a new recipe or hiking a new trail with my family. I love to travel and hope to one day be able to see the whole world!
Emma
Hi, my name is Emma! I am a UF graduate with majors in international studies and German. I have a love for the water that started young through competitive swimming and continued through teaching swim lessons, lifeguarding, and swimming in ocean races.The water is my happy place and I'm excited to share my passion for the craft with Sailfish Swim students and help them take their first steps into swimming!