The Alli Jo’s Swim School Team
San Diego Swim Lesson Instructors
Rylee (the coach)
Rylee is a native of Austin, Texas who moved to California in 2013. She grew up competitive swimming with a huge love for water, then moved out to Southern California for the outdoors and to live closer to the beach. This organically led to a fascination and quick obsession with surfing! She's in the ocean daily and has developed some incredible friendships through the local surf community as well as meeting a handful of girls in the younger generation that she's had the privilege to mentor and share waves with.
Rylee loves teaching older kiddos strokes and getting them ready for swim team. She’s thorough in her instruction and makes sure her students understand the ‘why’.
Most interesting place Rylee has swam? Cliff jumping at the Blue Pools in Hasst, New Zealand!
DJ (the party)
DJ is the reason that Alli Jo's Swim School exists. She is Alli Jo's mom and has taught swim lessons for over 50 years, while somehow being eternally 35 years old! She's taught tens of thousands of children and adults to swim. A retired elementary school teacher, she comes alive with kids and especially loves teaching strokes classes to older children.
Outside of the pool, DJ is unbeatable in both Scrabble and on the mountain skiing. She's a former ski patrol and spends her winters chasing powder!
Inside the pool, she is the FUN teacher who moves fast and plays all the best games. Even with 40+ years of experience, she is always growing and staying relevant to bring the very best to her students.
Most interesting place DJ has swam? The Seven Sacred Pools in Hana, Hawaii!
Hannah (the booster)
Hannah is a native of Encinitas and avid surfer (her favorite break is Pipes). She grew up on the surf team and participated in competitions growing up. Her huge love for the ocean extends beyond surfing and into art where she creates woodburning watercolors of local fish and sea life (check out her art on IG @vanveenart) She's a spear-fisher, free diver and an enthusiastic AJSS swim instructor!
Hannah’s mom ran a daycare in their home while growing up so she’s been around 2-5 year olds her whole life and has no problem explaining things in a way that they can understand. She carries both the safety and enjoyment of the water as she teaches. If your kiddo needs an instructor that will boost their confidence and call them to greatness, Hannah is the best fit!
Most interesting place Hannah has swam? Cleopatra’s Baths in Pamukkale, Turkey!
Katie (the enthusiast)
Katie is a native San Diegan who grew up swimming with her seven brothers and sisters. As one of the oldest, she feels like she has been teaching kids to swim her whole life.
You will find Katie using songs, games and silly voices to make students feel comfortable and have fun while learning. She uses her experience as a teacher and camp counselor to connect with each student in a positive and meaningful way. Her teaching style is centered around consistent encouragement, patience, and excitement. Katie loves the water, the beach, and traveling. She has been to all seven continents and even jumped in the water in Antarctica. Her newest adventure is raising her two kiddos Davey and Greta alongside her husband Brian. Katie loves to see how much joy her students have in the water and the pride and sense of accomplishment they have once it all clicks.
Most interesting place Katie has swam? A polar plunge in Antarctica!
Jake (the energetic)
Jake’s roots are in North Carolina and Tennessee. He grew up always playing in sports and spent his summers on the Tennessee River water skiing, swimming and fishing! During his 7 years in the US Navy, Jake continued his passion for health and fitness training hard and diving into the world of Crossfit. He also spent countless hours in the pool training for his many long ocean swims. He is now out of the military and studying engineering at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Jake has always loved working with kids (because deep down he still is one!). His love for kids drove him to volunteer with the kids ministry at his church and now has the privilege of teaching kids to swim at AlliJo’s Swim School during the summers. With his boundless energy, genuine care, and natural affinity for connecting with children, Jake creates a fun and safe environment for kids to learn and enjoy the wonders of swimming.
Most interesting place Jake has swam? The Persian Gulf!
Natalie (the nurturer)
Natalie grew up on the central coast of California and has always loved playing sports. She played basketball, volleyball, ran track, and swam growing up. Natalie has also always loved working with kids. Over the last decade of working with children in a variety of settings, it’s become clear that the pool is her FAVORITE place to be with kids. Teaching swim lessons is a sweet spot for Natalie's passions. She is nurturing, yet fun and enthusiastic in the pool. Natalie is a great teacher and always has a big smile on her face.
Natalie and her husband Luke had a baby girl in early 2023 and absolutely love being her parents. Natalie can't wait to meet you and teach your kids to swim this summer!
Most interesting place Natalie has swam? Batur Hot Springs in Bali, Indonesia!
Kelly (the glue)
Kelly is an East Coast transplant that quickly acclimated to life in SoCal. When she isn't working with the amazing parents and families of AJSS, she is working as an assistant to some really awesome executives in the tech industry. If she isn't doing either of those things, you can find her either coaching or participating in a Crossfit class, a recent yet consuming passion. Kelly has a chocolate lab puppy named Evie that has become the unofficial (and enthusiastic) mascot of our little swim school. Kelly is sure to be calm and collected with her go to phrase of "it's no problem". She makes epic Powerpoint presentations for our team meetings and it’s no secret that our whole team adores her!
Most interesting place Kelly has swam? The Dead Sea!
Kale (the kindest)
Kale is originally from Kansas. She dreamt of the ocean as long as she could remember, and didn’t feel at home until she relocated to Southern California. Kale has been swimming since 4 years old, and her family started their own swim club when she was 8. They were soon traveling the country, and eventually, the world for swim competitions. It paid off because her brother is now an olympic gold medalist coached by her father! If Kale isn’t swimming or surfing you can either find her playing volleyball or painting. Her faith and the ocean are what inspires her art which you can find on Instagram (@kalesadventureart) or kalesadventureart.com
Kale has also had many years of experience with kids of all ages through volunteering at her church’s children’s ministry. Being a swim instructor pulls together all of Kale’s strengths, passions and life experiences!
Most interesting place Kale has swam? The playas of Spain!
Sarah (the sunshine)
Native to NorCal, Sarah moved to SoCal a couple of years ago to be able to do all her favorite activities in the sun and surf! She grew up active and played all sorts of sports, her favorites being basketball, cross country and lacrosse. It wasn’t until Sarah went to college on the Central Coast that fell in love with surfing and quickly became an avid swimmer. After moving to North County San Diego, she found a community of likeminded people that share a similar passion for surfing. Sarah has worked with kiddos of all ages and stages in various settings.
Sarah worked as a special needs camp counselor as well as a special-ed aid in the classroom. When she’s not teaching swim lessons, Sarah is usually running, surfing, traveling, reading, painting or hanging out with the junior high and high school kids she mentors. With a smile on her face and positive attitude, Sarah wants kids to feel calm and competent in the water so that they can enjoy it as possible wherever they end up swimming!
Most interesting place Sarah has swam? A volcanic lake in Nicaragua!
Kelsey (the angel)
Kelsey has been with AJSS for 7 years and has taught over 1,000 kiddos to swim with our program!
She is calm, patient and consistent. After several moms emailed and asked “Is she an angel?” the title stuck!
Kelsey lives with her husband in Australia, but when she’s in San Diego to visit family she makes time to get a couple sessions in with us!
Thad (the calm)
Thad’s earliest memories are of learning to swim, and he has always felt a draw towards all things water and the ocean. Growing up he enjoyed swimming on club teams, water polo, and adventuring in lakes, rivers and the ocean while on Boy Scout trips. He took his love of the water with him in the Navy and served as a helicopter rescue swimmer for 6 years.
Thad is cool, calm and consistent. As a swim coach, he is focused on safety and his demeanor helps to put nervous swimmers more at ease.
Most interesting place Thad has swam? Lake Baikal, Russia
Malia (the uplifter)
Malia comes from the charming town of Waco, Texas. Her love for swimming began with lazy days spent by the Brazos River and splashing around in backyard pools. Armed with her passion for teaching and a natural gift for connecting with children, Malia isn't just a swim instructor; she's your biggest cheerleader, your gentle guide, and your partner in aquatic adventures. With her warm Texas charm and endless enthusiasm, Malia creates a welcoming environment where every child feels empowered to dive in and make a splash. So, grab your swimsuit and get ready to soak up the joy of swimming with this instructor whose heart is as big as the Lone Star State!
Most interesting place Malia has swam? Idasvallei Dam, South Africa
Andrew (the steady)
Andrew is a native of California and moved to San Diego County in 2021! He spent much of his childhood in LA County doing what he could to get to the beach to surf! He is the second oldest of seven siblings and loves teaching kids. Since he graduated from The Master's University in 2018, he has worked in after school care, summer camps, youth ministry, as a school chaplain/Bible teacher in Vista. He loves watching kiddos succeed at something they weren't confident in before and is stoked to help them develop their skills and love for the water! Andrew quickly gains trust with swimmers through his steady and easy demeanor, and once he has their trust, the results are amazing!
Most interesting place Andrew has swam? Banias Waterfall in Golan, Israel
Ellie (the encourager)
Ellie is a Hoosier at heart, loving her central Indiana roots. She has always loved playing all kinds of sports- she played collegiate golf! Growing up, Ellie gained confidence swimming by participating in her neighborhood swim team. Ellie learned to surf in college, which grew her love for the ocean even more. Being active, energetic, and having a big appetite for Mexican food, Ellie has quickly adapted to life in San Diego. Her favorite hobbies are surfing, swimming, and snorkeling.
Ellie has tons of experience working with children of all ages, most recently working as a substitute teacher at a local preschool. Ellie has a deep passion to see kids overcome fears and insecurities by learning. Ellie's love for the water combined with her passion for teaching, gives kids the confidence they need to succeed. Ellie’s lessons are filled with encouragement and cheering. She makes kiddos light up!
Megan (the guide)
Megan grew up in SoCal, surfing every weekend in between soccer, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, and rock climbing. After a move to the east coast, she knew she had to come back. She's a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in Psychology! During her time on the east coast, she fell in love with rock climbing and competed in the sport for over 6 years, traveling around the U.S. and even Canada for competitions. Megan has spent the past few summers leading backpacking trips in Yosemite for adults and children, teaching outdoor rock climbing, and lifeguarding for a summer camp. She’s a natural as a coach and is super experienced in that fine balance of earning trust and challenging new learners.
Megan is a gentle guide in the water, she has an easy personality that makes kiddos feel safe. She loves teaching swim lessons because it’s a lifelong skill that infuses confidence!
