The Aqua Elite Mission:
Our mission is to provide a safe, fun, and comfortable environment for our students to learn how to swim confidently. We believe that everyone should learn how to swim, regardless of age or experience. Our team of experienced instructors is dedicated to teaching our students the fundamentals of swimming and helping them develop the skills they need to become confident swimmers. We do this at Aqua Elite Swimstitute so no more children are victims of drowning.
The Aqua Elite Team:
Aqua Elite Swimstitute's Team has over 30 years of experience in teaching children and adults how to swim and over 15 years of swim and triathlon coaching experience.
Coach Koren
Owner, Coach Koren Gately has been teaching children to swim since she was an apprentice at the age of 15 in Bowling Green, Ohio. (that's a lot of years!)
Coach Koren's background includes a master's degree in early childhood education with over 15 years teaching Pre-K special ed. In addition, she has coached the Serenbe Sharks summer swim team for 4 years and The Heritage School middle and high teams for 2 years here in Newnan, GA.
Coach Koren was a collegiate swimmer at Kenyon College and competed at the elite national level as a triathlete for 10 years. As a result, she created Kids Tri 2, a kids focused triathlon company that coached kids in the sport of triathlon, hosted clinics and Kid's Triathlons.
Coach Koren's enthusiasm for teaching kids of all levels is evident in her experience and testimonies that can be found HERE on the Aqua Elite Swimstitute website.
Miss Sydney
Sydney Lackey is currently a sophomore at Union University in Tennessee and pursuing a Business Management Degree. She graduated from Trinity Christian School in 2022. Sydney has been a certified lifeguard for 2 years and a head lifeguard for 1 year. She started teaching swim lessons last summer and trained under Coach Koren. In addition, she has been babysitting for 8 years. Sydney has grown up in the water and loves to swim. Teaching swim lessons combines both her love of children and teaching them new skills.
TESTIMONIALS
"I can't recommend Coach Koren's swimming lessons highly enough! My kids, aged 3 and 4, have truly flourished under her guidance. Not only did she keep them engaged and enthusiastic about learning to swim, but she also prioritized their safety every step of the way.
Coach Koren's approach is both nurturing and effective. She created a fun and supportive environment where my children felt comfortable and eager to participate. Her expertise in working with young children was evident from the start, as she tailored her lessons to their individual needs and abilities.
What impressed me most was Coach Koren's unwavering commitment to safety. She instilled confidence in both my kids and me by emphasizing proper techniques and precautions in and around the pool. I never once felt uneasy about their well-being under her watchful eye.
Thanks to Coach Koren, my children have not only learned valuable swimming skills but have also developed a lifelong love for the water. I am incredibly grateful for her dedication and expertise, and I wholeheartedly endorse her swimming lessons for any parent looking to introduce their young ones to the joys of swimming."
Joel C. in Chatt Hills, GA
"In the summer of 2023, my 8-year-old Grandnephew, Avery, was enrolled in swimming lessons with Koren Gately at the pool in Serenbe. Avery had participated in some swimming lessons in the past. He was reluctant to get
into the pool, or to engage in any activity that went further than holding on to the side, while his feet were firmly attached to the underwater floor. Each day of instruction, Koren approached Avery with a very calm, friendly, and relaxed
demeanor. They would get into the pool and discuss the lesson for the day. She always listened to Avery’s concerns, and every time, allayed his fears and built his confidence.
His grandmother and I watched as his angst dissipated and his comfort level, trust, and abilities grew.
By the end of the seven days of instruction with Koren, Avery was jumping into the pool, diving to the bottom, and beginning to work on the coordination of his arms and legs to
move forward in the water.
We are grateful for Koren. She is a skilled instructor, who loves her profession. Avery will always remember her, and so will our family. We are looking forward to more swimming lessons with Koren."
Aunt Pat in Alabama
"I go to swim lessons. I love swim lessons."
Maddie V. (age 7),
Senoia, GA
To learn more about drowning prevention visit the National Drowning Prevention Alliance
