Meet Coach Julie – Coconut Creek / Travel

Julie grew up in South Florida. She was born in Gainesville and later attended Florida State University where she received a Bachelors Degree in Fitness and Recreation. Her love of children and her love for swimming led her to work at many pools and facilities ranging from Six Flags Atlantis, Apollo Pool, South Broward Pool, Central Park Pool, Tallahassee Recreational Facility, and The British Swim School. She has had the opportunity to teach many through private lessons and has spent many hours working with both children and adults in various pools and facilities.

Her love for children and swimming landed her a job at Central Park Pool in Plantation. She later became a Water Safety Instructor. In this position, Julie taught young children how to swim, worked with physically challenged children in the adapted aquatics program, life guarded, coached a group of young minnows on the swim team, and also started an Aquatics Sports Camp.

Julie’s certifications include Water Safety Instructor, CPR/First Aid Instructor, and Lifeguard Instructor. She received certification in Elementary Education, Kindergarten and ESOL (English Speaking Other Languages) from Florida Atlantic University. She received her certification in music while working at North Fork Elementary and Stephen Foster Elementary. In total, Julie has taught in the public school system for over 10 years.

One of Julie’s most cherished memories while teaching private swimming lessons was when a mother told her that her son’s life was saved because of the lessons Julie had taught him. The little boy had fallen into the pool without anyone being aware and had safely been able to swim back to safety. His mom explained that he had come to her — fully clothed and dripping wet — and told her the “push car” he’d been riding fell into the pool, but that he had managed to swim to the shallow end.

Julie’s love for swimming, children and people is obvious in the way she motivates and encourages each student.