Behind every lesson at Swim Gym of Lakewood Ranch is a team of passionate, highly trained instructors dedicated to helping children become safer and more confident in the water. Each member of our team is committed to the ISR philosophy of survival-based swimming, providing patient, personalized instruction that supports every child’s unique learning journey. Get to know the instructors who make Swim Gym such a special place for families.
Miss Anita Pope is the heart and founder of Swim Gym of Lakewood Ranch. As an ISR Master Instructor, Anita has dedicated her career to helping children develop life-saving water survival skills through Infant Swimming Resource (ISR). Since opening Swim Gym in 2012, she has guided countless families through the ISR program, creating a safe, supportive environment where children learn confidence, independence, and critical water safety skills that can last a lifetime.
Outside of the pool, Anita enjoys staying active and embracing the Florida lifestyle she loves. In her free time, she can often be found exercising, relaxing at the beach, or spending time boating with her family—activities that reflect her deep appreciation for the water and the importance of teaching children how to be safe and confident around it.
Miss Jamie has been an important part of the Swim Gym of Lakewood Ranch family since 2014. She is passionate about teaching and takes great pride in helping children build the skills and confidence they need to become safe, independent swimmers. With a patient and encouraging approach, Jamie creates a supportive learning environment where each child can progress at their own pace while developing essential water survival skills.
When she’s not “saving babies” in the pool, Jamie enjoys spending quality time with her three kids and embracing the outdoors. You’ll often find her camping with her family or giving back to the community by volunteering with the Girl Scouts—activities that reflect the same caring, adventurous spirit she brings to Swim Gym every day.
Miss Melissa joined the Swim Gym of Lakewood Ranch team in 2015 after relocating from Orlando and quickly became a valued member of our group of ISR instructors. She is passionate about teaching children the skills they need to become confident, independent swimmers and takes great pride in helping families feel more secure around the water. Melissa’s caring approach and dedication to ISR principles help create a positive learning environment where children can safely build lifelong water safety skills.
Outside of the pool, Melissa enjoys embracing the Florida lifestyle with her family. When she’s not “saving babies,” she loves spending time boating and cheering on her two daughters as they compete in cheerleading—bringing the same supportive energy to her family that she brings to Swim Gym every day.
Give your child the life-saving skills they need to survive an unexpected water accident. Our ISR Self-Rescue lessons teach infants and young children how to float, breathe, and return to safety.
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