Whether poolside, lakeside, or oceanside, swimming skills are essential for creating safe and fun memories in the water. In fact, learning to swim can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for 1-4 year olds who take formal swim lessons.
The JRays Swim School at the Tucson J is proud to host group swim lessons for toddlers and children Monday through Thursday from March to October. With options for every schedule, classes meet for 30-minute lessons over four-week sessions. Students are split by age and skill level, as determined by staff.
Looking to get involved with your child’s swim instruction? Toddler + Me classes are a great option for family learning.
If you’d prefer more personalized instruction, the JRays Swim School offers private and buddy lessons year-round for people of all ages. Don’t forget — learning to swim is important at any age. Private lessons are essential for kids learning to swim, but are also perfect for teenagers and adults looking to learn the basics or brush up on their skills.
Keep reading to learn more about our JRays Swim School Staff!
Morgan Montague
Swim School Coordinator, Head Swim Instructor
Morgan has been teaching at the J since 2016, helping build the Swim School from the ground up. She has 22+ years of swimming experience and has swum competitively since the age of 5. Throughout her time teaching at the J, Morgan has taught the majority of the swimmers who have participated in the various swim programs, many of whom still remember her and know her by name. Morgan has a true passion for teaching, engaging in playful instruction of her younger swimmers, and full cognitive instruction for her older swimmers. Morgan teaches all ages and skill levels and is a regular on the pool deck.
Ryan Perham
Private Instructor, Group Instructor, Stingrays Swim Team Coach
Coach Ryan is a dedicated swim coach and former Division I athlete with over 20 years of experience in competitive swimming and water polo. He competed for the University of Arizona, specializing in sprint freestyle and butterfly events. During his collegiate career, Ryan earned CSCAA All-American honors and contributed to setting a school record in the 200 freestyle relay, which placed 12th at the NCAA Division I Championships. He also helped secure a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay at the Pac-12 Championships. After his competitive years, Ryan transitioned into coaching, working with swimmers of all ages and skill levels, including those with special education needs. He now coaches the Tucson J Stingrays Swim team and does private swimming lessons.
Chrisa Whitmore
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Chrisa has been part of the Tucson J swim family for about 2 years. At the J, Chrisa has been focused on teaching all levels at the J Rays Swim School and the Toddler Class. She began teaching swim lessons at 16 years old and quickly discovered a passion for helping swimmers build confidence and find joy in the water. Chrisa’s teaching style centers on trust, comfort, and fun, ensuring every swimmer feels safe and supported. She celebrates every victory, no matter how big or small, and loves supporting each swimmer’s unique journey. By tailoring her approach to each swimmer’s pace and individual needs, Chrisa creates a positive and empowering learning experience for all. Outside of the pool, Chrisa is pursuing her PhD in environmental science at the University of Arizona and loves relaxing with her dogs and family.
Carrick Montague
Group Instructor
Carrick was a competitive swimmer from five years old until sixteen, when he decided to take up fencing. He is a self-proclaimed nerd and a lover of all things art, and he enjoys programming video games and writing music for them. He has been teaching in the Tucson J Stingray Pups, Learn to Swim, and Camp J programs for two years now.
Leila Stafford
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Leila has been teaching lessons at the Tucson J for over a year. She has been a competitive swimmer since age four and has committed to swim Division 1 at the University of Michigan. Leila loves teaching children of all ages to work on strong fundamentals, water safety, and eventually stroke techniques, and she enjoys watching them grow.
Amber Janky
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Amber is a D1 swimmer and enjoys working with kids and teaching them valuable lessons like swimming. Her favorite color is purple.
Ian Choi
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Ian has been swimming his whole life, from club teams to the competitive scene, and loves how the sport constantly pushes oneself to improve. That is why he enjoys teaching lessons— swimming imparts so many useful habits and skills that are applicable throughout life. Whether it is discipline in pushing through tough sets or patience through working out a difficult technique, each quality is essential in providing younger generations with a foundation of good habits to build on. As for himself, Ian likes to hike Mount Lemmon and Sabino Canyon or read in his free time.
Caitlyn Schmid
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Caitlyn has been swimming since she was five years old and basically grew up in the water, swimming all the way through the end of high school! Her love for swimming led her to start teaching swim lessons in her freshman year of high school, and she has happily continued teaching on and off ever since. Now, as a parent of two young children, water safety is close to her heart. Caitlyn teaches swim lessons because she truly believes swimming is one of the most important (and fun!) life skills a child can learn. Starting early builds confidence, safety, and a lifelong love for the water—and Caitlyn loves being part of that journey!
Abby Anderson
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Abby is a former competitive swimmer with over 3 years of experience teaching swim lessons. She especially enjoys teaching beginner water comfortability and survival skills.
Avery Howayeck
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Avery is a 2X SAAA breaststroke record holder with over 8 years of experience teaching the basics of swimming to stroke technique for all ages—babies to adults. Avery’s fun–loving personality and passion for swim lessons make swimming fun to learn, and she does her best to personalize all of her lessons to each student.
Kyle Lopez
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Kyle is a swim instructor with over three years of experience teaching swimmers of all ages and skill levels. He currently teaches private swim lessons with Sunsational Swim School and provides both private and group instruction at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Kyle has previously worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor with the YMCA of Southern Arizona, as well as an assistant coach at Ventana Canyon Swim team. He is recognized for building strong relationships with students and families, earning multiple five-star reviews for his instruction. He is passionate about water safety and helping swimmers build confidence in the water. In his free time, Kyle likes to play basketball, go hiking, listen to music, and play video games.
Shelby Johnson
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Shelby has been swimming for two years and has one year of swim instructor experience. She teaches lessons because she genuinely loves helping people feel confident in the water—and promises lessons are productive and fun.
Miguel Villalpando
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Miguel has been teaching for over 4 years. He is experienced with teaching every age range and has taught a variety of classes, including summer swimming, preschool, youth classes, infant, adult swim lessons, SAW (Safety around water), and more. Miguel looks forward to being your teacher!
Katherine Montague
Group Instructor
Katherine has been teaching at the Tucson J for two years for both Camp J and ECE swim lessons. In her spare time, she forges fun tools with her dad and swims year–round.
Jeffrey Bartholomeusz
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Jeffrey is a former competitive swimmer and water polo player with 4+ years of experience teaching swim lessons. He is comfortable with all age groups and skill levels.
Landry Moore
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Landry began lifeguarding in her hometown of Dallas, Texas in 2023 and quickly advanced to teaching lifeguard certification courses the following summer. She joined the Tucson J in October 2024, bringing both skill and enthusiasm to the aquatics team. Passionate about safety and teamwork, Landry works hard to create a welcoming environment at the pool. Outside of work, Landry travels to play competitive rugby, representing her team in matches and tournaments across the country.
Raegan Seip
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Raegan works best with young swimmers who are new to lessons.
Viridiana Henikman
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Viridiana is a current competitive swimmer with over 10 years of swimming experience. She is comfortable teaching swimmers of all levels.
Desiree Blute
Private Instructor, Group Instructor
Desiree has been competitively swimming since age 4, and loves teaching lessons to share her love of the sport with others. One fun fact about Desiree is that she also plays the harp!
