The Infant Aquatics Global Network continues to grow!
This winter and spring, four new instructors completed Infant Aquatics training and are now bringing lifesaving water survival lessons to families in California, Texas, Virginia, and Nevada.
While their backgrounds are very different, they share a common goal — helping children become safer in and around the water through developmentally appropriate survival swim instruction.
This is More Than a Certification
Becoming an Infant Aquatics instructor is a hands-on process that combines in-water teaching experience with education in child development, safety, and instructional techniques.
Under the guidance of our experienced Certifying Instructors, trainees spend extensive time working directly with children, learning how to meet each student where they are and help them build confidence and competence in the water.
This winter and spring, four new instructors completed that journey.
Meet Casey Ballard
After spending nine years in corporate America, Casey made the decision to pursue work that felt deeply meaningful — teaching young children lifesaving water skills.
A competitive swimmer, junior lifeguard, and lifelong ocean enthusiast, Casey's connection to water safety is personal. Following a childhood near-drowning experience, she developed a deep respect for the importance of consistent swim instruction and water competency.
Casey trained with Judy Heumann in Longmont, Colorado, and completed more than 150 hours of training before launching Swim Smart Infant Aquatics in North County San Diego.
Meet Cyndi Fenton
Cyndi Fenton has spent her life working with children.
With a background in Human Development and Family Studies, years of experience coaching competitive swimmers, and ownership of the historic Seahorse Swim School in Lubbock, Texas, teaching children in and around the water has long been part of her life's work.
After years of teaching older swimmers, Cyndi pursued Infant Aquatics certification to expand her ability to serve families and bring infant water survival lessons to her community.
Cyndi trained with Kim Emery in Decatur, TX, and now serves families throughout Lubbock and the surrounding area at Desert Wave Infant Aquatics .
Meet Jessica Howlett
Jessica Howlett brings a background in psychology, counseling, and a longstanding passion for infant water safety.
As both a parent and advocate, she spent more than a decade supporting the importance of early water survival skills before pursuing instructor training herself.
After experiencing the program with her own child, Jessica felt called to help other families experience the same confidence and peace of mind that comes from seeing a child develop lifesaving skills.
Jessica trained with Erin Loewe in Richmond, VA and now serves families in Virginia Beach, Virginia, through Float Strong Infant Aquatics.
Meet Leone Gurr
Originally from Hawaiʻi, Leone Gurr grew up surrounded by water through swimming, surfing, diving, and other ocean activities.
His path into Infant Aquatics began after watching his own son develop confidence, awareness, and comfort in the water through early swim lessons.
Inspired by that experience, Leone pursued instructor training and discovered a passion for helping children build both water confidence and real survival skills.
Leone trained with Judy Heumann in Longmont, CO and now serves families in Las Vegas, Nevada, through 9th Island Infant Aquatics.
Growing the Mission
Every new instructor expands access to lifesaving water survival lessons for families who may not have previously had an Infant Aquatics instructor nearby.
As long as children are around the water, this work will help save lives!
We're proud to welcome Casey, Cyndi, Jessica, and Leone to the Infant Aquatics Global Network and look forward to the impact they will have in their communities for years to come!
Interested in Becoming an Instructor?
Whether you’re a parent, educator, healthcare professional, coach, or simply someone passionate about child safety, there’s a place for you in this global network.