Highest Level Offered: Basic Skills, Senior Moves in the Field, Freestyle, Low Level Dance
Coaching Accomplishments
I have had skating students test up through Intermediate level moves in the field and pre-juvenile free skate. I have had students complete in National Solo Dance, well balanced free skate, excel series, and basic skills levels. My club did not have ice dance, and I have begun testing through my ice dances. To date, I have successfully tested through my bronze dances and am working on my pre-silver dances.
Background
I grew up in Kalamazoo Ml and I tested in figures, moves in the field, and freestyle. I skated for the Kalamazoo Kommotions synchronized skating team (then called
precision skating). I skated for Western Michigan University Synchronized Skating Team for 5 years, as a Senior Level skater, from 1996-2001. My last 3 years at WMU, WMU recognized our sport with Varsity Status, which was truly an amazing experience. This meant skating was fully funded through the University and we received the same athletic recognition (which included receiving varsity coats) as WMU football, hockey, gymnastics, etc. During my skating days at WMU, I also competed individually at collegiate competitions. For my last year of skating at WMU, I was named the 2001 Female Top Scholar Athlete for the university. I
graduated from WMU with a 4.0 GPA in Occupational Therapy. I then went on to get a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. I have a 20+ year career as a school based Occupational Therapist. I work at Van Buren Intermediate School District with young children ages 2-9 with special needs. I have been a
pediatric OT since 2002. I feel that my background as an OT helps me with teaching skating immensely, as I am able to quickly hone in on a child’s individual learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile) and am well versed on how to encourage a student to learn new skills (with appropriate motivators and positive reinforcements). My career is heavily based on human anatomy and physiology, and I am able to coach students on proper body mechanics, strength and conditioning, both on and off the ice. I pride myself in effective communication, with both parents and students. I efficiently respond to texts, phone calls, and emails.
Experience
I started teaching at the age of 16 with the Bronco Skating School at Lawson Ice Arena. I taught two days per week through the rest of my high school years, and all
through my years at WMU, until I was 22. That gave me 6 years of teaching experience in my early years. I then took a break from the ice to start my career, get married, and have a family with our 4 children. I am back on the ice teaching since 2017. With the 6 years of teaching experience from before, I have 11 years of teaching experience in skating. As mentioned above, I have a 20+ year career in the education field as an Occupational Therapist. I believe my educational and health field background helps me immensely as a skating coach.