Swim Instructors
Sharon Charles
Ms. Sharon has been teaching water safety and instruction for over forty years. She has taught every level from water readiness to competitive swimming and every age from infant to the elderly. Ms. Sharon has been teaching at Charlotte Aquatics since we opened our doors in 1996. In 2011, Ms Sharon was the recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2011 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Sharon is like the “Fish Whisperer”. She can calm a fearful child and engage them in the water. As Sharon says, being a grandmother to six has taught her to think like a kid. Out of the water, her hobbies include tropical fish (no surprise), gardening, playing video games, and studying the stock market.
Gislene Graham
Ms. Gigi was born in Sao Paulo Brazil, where she graduated from Sao Paulo University with degrees in General and Physical Education. She taught school and coached swimming and volleyball for 17 yrs before moving to Miami Florida in 2002. Gigi gave private lessons in southeast Florida until 2006, when she married, and moved to Charlotte with her husband. In 2008 they added daughter Gabriella to the family. For the last 3 years, Ms. Gigi has enjoyed teaching children how to swim at Charlotte Aquatics. Ms. Gigi gets results and has truly inspired the 3Cs (comfort, confidence, and competence) in our students. In 2011, Gigi was the recipient of the United States Swim School Associations Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.
Tara Neltner
Ms. Tara joined the Charlotte Aquatics team in February 2007 bringing 18 years of teaching and aquatics experience. Her career began at a young age with swimming lessons and progressed through college where she swam competitively for Centre College of Kentucky. Not only is Tara a certified Water Safety Instructor (WSI), she is a Red Cross certified Lifeguard Instructor. A native of Kentucky, she transplanted to North Carolina with her husband 10 years ago. Along with teaching swim lessons, Ms. Tara is a stay at home mom to two wonderful children.
Cara Sicilia
Ms. Cara is a graduate of Winthrop University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Nutrition & Dietetics. She joined the Charlotte Aquatics team in 2007 as a Teaching Assistant. Cara has since completed her Water Safety Instructor (WSI) training. Cara has a great ability to infuse fun with learning. She is comfortable teaching all ages and the kids love her. So do we!
Deborah Spivak
Ms.Deborah swam competitively as a teen and has loved the water ever since. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where her love of people and great personality landed her a career as a flight attendant for USAir. When not teaching children how to swim, she raises her two children, Ryan and Sierra. And yes – they are on a local swim team! Deborah has a gift for working with children and is very active in her community, volunteering at Weddington Elementary School and her local church.
Rachel Newbury
Rachel is currently a student at Queens University. She has been on a swim team for nine years and breast stroke is her specialty. Rachel just received her Water Safety Instructor certification through the American Red Cross. When she is not swimming, Rachel loves to play the violin.
Erin Newbury
Ms. Erin has always enjoyed the water. She grew up taking swim lessons and competing on swim teams. She began teaching swim instruction when she was 17 years old. Erin briefly joined the Charlotte Aquatics family in 2005 before she left to study business and work for an animation studio in New Zealand. Erin returned to the States in 2008 to complete a degree in elementary education at Queens University. We are pleased to have Ms. Erin back as part of our team, where she educates our students on the mechanics and joys of swimming.
Mike Wasserman
Mr. Mike has been swimming since he was five years old. Mike's love of water and swimming capabilities earned him a swimming scholarship to Appalachian State University; where later, he became the assistant swim coach. Mr. Mike has been teaching at Charlotte Aquatics for over ten years and is a recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2011 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. He has a degree in educational media and is a national board certified teacher in business education. During the mornings and early afternoons, Mike teaches business education courses at Rocky River High school. He then heads to Charlotte Aquatics where he loves teaching swimming lessons and the kids love him. It’s always a fun time in the pool with Mr. Mike!
Rebecah Johnson
Rebecah, a home schooled high school student, is in the middle of ten children who have almost all swum on a swim team. She has swam nine, going on ten years and loves butterfly. She hopes to one day teach in Africa, where she wishes to be a missionary. Rebecah loves being around kids and feels she has found the perfect job!
Jessica Gronseth
Jessica graduated from Queens University of Charlotte in 2007 with a degree in Psychology. She currently teaches fours at Trinity Presbyterian Weekend School and has been a lifeguard since 2001. Jessica came to Charlotte Aquatics in May 2011 as the Birthday Party Coordinator and joined our teaching staff in September 2011. She loves reading, dancing, swimming, lifeguarding, and teaching.
Mary Johnson
Mary is a nursing student and working towards a BSN. Her first memories are of playing in the hose with her dad as a toddler and has been around water ever since. She is one of the oldest children in a family of 10 and is also the older sister of Miss Rebecah. She has been working with children since she was very young and was a nanny before she became a WSI. Mary swam competitively year-round for 7 years and enjoys teaching all ages from toddlers to adults. She loves all things outside from hiking to boating, especially in the mountains.
