Meet Our Staff
Coach Paul (General Manager)
Coach Paul is a third generation swim school manager and proud parent of 2 little swimmers of his own; Adrienne and Anastasia. In addition to being an ASCA Level 2 swim coach, he has been a member of the United States Swim School Association since 1996 and has been teaching swimming lessons since 1987. As a licensed pool and spa maintenance contractor, Coach Paul makes sure all of our pool equipment is in tip top shape! As busy as he is, Coach Paul still finds time to be the head coach for our AQua Wave Otters competitive swim team in the summers. As with all of our coaches, Paul is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified through the American Red Cross. In addition, Coach Paul has specialized training from the United States Swim School Association as an instructor for children with Special Abilities. Coach Paul is a wonderful asset to all of us here at AQua Wave Swim School and would be a great choice for your swim lesson needs.
Coach Vickie (Instructor)
Vickie has been with AQuaWave since its inception. Vickie also swam on group, high school, and Junior College teams. She has a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Cal State Fullerton. Teaching and coaching swimming has been her passion, her entire life. She has taught and coached swimming in Santa Ana, Tustin, and Foothill Ranch. Vickie has been married for 35 years, and has three grown children, and three grandchildren. Her hobbies are gardening, reading and playing golf. Ms. Vickie teaches on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Tasha (Instructor)
Tasha swam competitively for four years and has been teaching at AQua Wave for over 20 years. She has a very sweet and loving personality, which helps her students connect easily, but she is firm when necessary. She often uses imagination as a teaching tool, which helps her students enjoy the learning process. Tasha earned her LVN at Stanbridge, graduated Summa Cum Laude and was elected valedictorian of her class. Ms. Tasha teaches on Monday and Tuesday evenings.
Todd (Instructor)
Todd has been teaching at AQua Wave since 2001. His calm and soothing personality helps his students feel comfortable with him and the water, even if they enter into lessons feeling unsure. He is very good at pushing children to their full potential without pushing them too hard. Todd works well with children of all ages and abilities, and he is trained through the U.S. Swim School Association to teach children with special abilities.
Josh (Instructor)
Josh has been teaching at AQua Wave since 2010. He earned his BS in Child Development at California State University, Fullerton with the aspiration to become a behavioral therapist. His combination of play and structure, based off the Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development, helps his students learn quickly and thoroughly. Josh works well with children of all ages and abilities, and he has specialized training from the U.S. Swim School Association as an instructor for children with special abilities. You can also work with him as an Adult in the water Tuesday evnings from 7:30-8:30 in our Adult Group Class.
Brianna (Instructor/Office)
Brianna has taught swimming professionally since 2013. She swam competitively in High School and played water polo. She loves teaching all levels, and enjoys helping children identify and get over their fears in the water. Miss Brianna teaches children how to swim with a firm but gentle hand
Kristen (Instructor/Office)
Kristen has taught swimming professionally since 2011. She first joined AQuaWave in 2012 to fulfill her love of working with children. Kristen enjoys working with all levels of children from parent and me, all the way to stroke development. Her versatile teaching style allows her to take each child’s personal needs and adapt to them. She is able to show, even the most uncertain child, how to love the water, while maintaining a happy and constructive class. Miss Kristen works well with children of all ages and abilities.
Debra (Instructor)
Miss Debra is new with Aqua Wave Swim School. She is a mother of a 35-year-old son whom she raised in the swimming world. Her passion has been swimming since she was 11 years old when she swam for a summer swim team in Nebraska. She followed her dream of teaching when she first started in Hawaii in 1982. She then moved back to California in 1985 and started teaching in Santa Ana. She also taught at Tustin High, Canyon High, Anaheim Hills, and Big Bear Lake. She is a graduate of Riverside Community College with an AA in Childhood Studies, then moved on to Fullerton Junior College for 2 years. In Fullerton she swam in her first competitive meet, since she was 11, and played the first Women’s Team at FJC for water polo. She went on and became a graduate at Cal State Fullerton in 2000 with a degree in Kinesiology.
She loves to teach and watch her students grow. Her experience has provided her with the passion and patience to work with children of all levels of needs and abilities. She has worked with swimmers with special needs of all ages and levels. Outside of AQua Wave she volunteers her time for a, local, summer special needs surf camp and is a member of the Acjachemen Juaneno Band of Mission Indians in San Juan Capistrano.
Connor (Instructor)
Connor has been at home in the water since he was one, which lead to serenity and confidence both in and out of the water. Connor has been teaching kids since 2011, taking several instructor positions, including the Gracie Barr Instructor Course and Dana Point Junior lifeguards. His Extensive background with kids allows him to present the course in a personalized and encouraging way for each child. He keeps them engaged with intentional and interactive teaching.
Gage (Instructor)
We feel fortunate to be able to share this young man with our AQua Wave children. Gage fully engages with his students in a fun and positive manner. Gage has spent years in the water, and wants every child to love it like he does. To help a child face their fears, Gage feels the adults in their lives, “Need to speak to them of their braveness as though they’re already there.”
Laura (Office)
Ms. Laura has two children, one in college and one in high school, so she loves to interact with your little ones and learn their favorite lollipops! She has a background in leadership, business management, and customer service. She is in the office full time and is the go to for any questions. She is a wonderful assett to AQua Wave and is extremely knowledgeable in anything related to your family account. Her favorite pastimes are reading, road trips, and adventures with her kids. She makes the best coffee at AW!
Shannon (Office)
Ms. Shannon has come to Join Aqua Wave’s Office staff from her previous position as senior lead manager at Glenwood Housing Foundation (a non-profit housing and supported living for young adults with special needs). Shannon’s ability to emotionally connect with adults and young adolescents was a resource Aqua Wave just couldn’t pass by. Shannon lives with her husband and their two sons and her dog, Gabbie.
Diane (Decorator/Office)
Diane has been with the AQua Wave family for many, many years. Every one of her five children swam here, and now we are happy to have such a creative mind in our office. She is our “designated decorator,” which means all of the decorations you see for the holidays were hand chosen and put up by her! She also did the border of our bulletin board and much, much more!
Marla (Executive Director)
Marla is our executive director. Her parents started Blue Buoy Swim School in 1956. She has spent decades refining her teaching techniques and training other instructors, first at Blue Buoy, and now at AQua Wave. As a member of the United states Swim School Association, Marla was instrumental in developing the USSSA Infant/Toddler Certification Program used by swim instructors around the world. She is now living her life overseeing AQua Wave with her dedicated husband, Paul Blauman.