About Us
Haley and Tracy Johnson
Owners
Haley Johnson (formerly Whatley), has been a swim instructor and lifeguard since 2006. She graduated from Texas Tech University in May 2012. In 2007, she began teaching private swim lessons in her backyard, and now Whatley Swim teaches all over the Austin area.
Tracy (Tra) Johnson is a cybersecurity practitioner and automotive enthusiast. For Whatley Swim, Tra helps create policies, procedures, and develop risk management protocols.
They also just had a baby! Click here to meet their newest little addition, Ramses.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Sole Llorca
Program Director
Sole Llorca was born in Spain, in a small city in Alicante province, just 20 minutes away from the Mediterranean Sea. She moved to London for a few years but had to go back to Spain because she missed the food, the sun and the beach too much. She worked in the corporate world for 20+ years, and finally decided to leave that route and do more of what she loves, swimming and yoga. She started teaching mobile swim lessons with Whatley Swim in 2021 and fell in love with the students and the company. She loves to teach and learn from the students and is now Whatley Swim’s Program Director.
Kalia Hunter
Change Manager
Asst. Program Director
Kalia Hunter is Whatley Swim’s Change Manager and Asst. Program Director. She has helped us tremendously in the off season to find new software for our clients and instructors. When scheduling is a breeze this season, you know who to thank!
Meet Our Instructors
Instructors
We are hiring for the 2024 season!
Are you a college student seeking an exciting summer gig or a young professional looking for a rewarding side hustle? Join Whatley Swim as a Mobile Swim Instructor and make a difference by preventing drowning in Texas!
Flexible schedule, competitive pay, training provided!
Natalie Uribe
Instructor
Natalie has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the UT Rio Grande Valley, so one of her greatest passions is working in the water, swimming, and diving. She also has a passion for teaching others beneficial skills, so teaching children to swim and working with clients in Spanish, her native language is right up her alley. She is Lifeguard, CPR and First Aid certified and is looking forward to a fun summer teaching and learning.
Alex Barrera
Instructor
Alejandro Barrera is from Mission, Texas and has been swimming his whole life. He swam competitively and lifeguarded for the City of Mission. Currently, he studies filmmaking at Texas State University. Alex is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
Valentina Bueno Dominguez
Instructor
Valentina was born in Cali Colombia and has been living in Austin, Texas with her two cats for the past 5 years. In Colombia she studied to be a veterinary assistant for two years and has a deep passion for helping animals and children. She developed a love for swimming at the age of 6 and started competitive swimming at 8 years old. She likes to spend time with the part of her family that is here in Austin and loves visiting her mom and friends in Colombia. Valentina is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified through the Red Cross.
Manuel Angulo
Instructor
I am Manuel Angulo, I am from Venezuela, I do have a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and have been swimming since I was a teenager, now I am a swim instrutor with 1 year of experience teaching children and adults. I am Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified through the Red Cross.
Amy Robertson
Instructor
Amy is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania, where she grew up in the world of competitive swimming. She’s worked as both a lifeguard and swim instructor, and loves helping people of all ages feel comfortable in the water. Amy went to college at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied Architecture. After 10 years of architectural design and management, and a cross country move to Austin 6 years ago, Amy is currently pursuing real estate, along with doing something she loves to do – teaching people how to swim!
Sophia Mingus
Instructor
Sophia has been swimming since childhood, finding joy in ocean activities like snorkeling and surfing. Pursuing a degree in diagnostic sonography, she’s also a lifelong Austinite with a knack for discovering the best local swimming spots. Now certified in lifeguarding, CPR, and first aid, Sophia’s passion for working with kids drives her excitement to teach swimming and ensure water safety for all. She is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
Violet McIlheran
Instructor
Hi, my name is Violet! As a swim instructor my main priorities are safety, progress and fun! I have lots of experience working with children of all ages. I also used to be lifeguard so safety is very important to me. I love spending time outdoors, traveling and surfing! I’m very active and outgoing, I love meeting new people and making new friends! Violet is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid Certified.
Savannah Epstein
Instructor
Savannah studies cybersecurity at UVA. She has been lifeguarding since she was 15 and this will be her fourth summer teaching with us. Savannah is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified and will teach at Ride on Center for Kids in Georgetown this summer.
Aubrey Sowards
Instructor
My name is Aubrey Sowards. I just finished my first year of college and am home for the summer! I was on the swim team in High School and am a super strong swimmer. I look forward to getting the opportunity to teach because it is a true passion of mine. I am Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
Aubrey Marquette
Instructor
Aubrey has a bachelor’s degree in Recreational therapy. She is currently a CPR/ BLS instructor providing public safety classes for people in the community. In her free time she enjoys painting, taking care of her pets and all things water sports. Aubrey is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid Certified.
John Stevens
Instructor
My name is John Stevens and I am new to the staff here. I am also new to Texas, having just moved here from Phoenix, AZ. I have been swimming since I was a child and was competing in swimming events by age age of 7. This lead to a 26 year career in the U.S. Navy during which I graduated from U.S. Navy dive school, rebreather school, Naval Special warfare diving supervisor school and etc. I have taught mostly adults how to swim for Naval Service but my most recent swim graduate of mine was my godson. I live here now with my wife and our two cats. I look forward to meeting you.
Ben Spink
Instructor
Ben is currently working towards his bachelor’s degree in psychology and neurology. Ben has been swimming since he was six and first became a lifeguard at age 15. After taking a break to focus on his education, he’s now looking forward to teaching others how to swim and is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
Jessica Rosenthal
Instructor
Jess is an art teacher from Houston and has been swimming since she can remember. She was a distance swimmer on her high school swim team. As an adult, she discovered a love for open water swimming. She has competed in open water swims, as well as sprint triathlons and swim runs. Jess’s favorite hobbies include drawing and painting, and spending time outside hiking, swimming, and paddle boarding with her 3 pups. She is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
Hailey Allen
Instructor
Hello! I’m Hailey, a dedicated swim instructor with a 15 year experience in competitive swimming. I’ve been a private swim instructor for the past 4 summers and love to see little ones light up when they gain confidence swimming. Originally from Georgia, I’ve been proud to call Hays County home for the past four years. I am working to get my relators license and love to be out in water or the woods. She is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
Joshua Orozco
Instructor
Hello! My name is Joshua Orozco, I’m a student at the University of Texas at Austin! Go longhorns! I have been a lifeguard for 4 years now and have expanded into other positions such as lifeguard instructor and swim instructor. Every summer I go to a camp in upstate New York where I lifeguard, counsel, and teach kids to swim. Some of my hobbies include the guitar, running, and swimming. I hope to see you out in the water! Joshua is Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
Our Core Values
Inclusion | Individualism | Integrity| Safety | Systemization
At Whatley Swim, we believe in creating an environment where any student can learn. We enjoy seeing progress in our students as they work through fear, language barriers, learning differences, and physical differences. In order to yield the best results, we look at our students holistically. We take into account the way they feel emotionally and physically and the way they think when planning their lessons. We aim, not only to teach them new skills, but to teach them to trust others and themselves. We believe that a sense of adventure is the most important precursor to learning. This mindset produces confidence, curiosity, openness and growth. Likewise, I cultivate these principles in our staff throughout instructor training. The system to which our instructors adhere is merely a template, and they work hard to customize it for each student they encounter. By focusing on developing students’ strengths, we reduce angst and accelerate learning. Lessons with us are a positive experience all the way around!
Happy Customers
F.A.Q.
Can I choose my instructor?
Instructors are based on location availability.
What if I miss a lesson?
– We do not provide refunds for missed lessons.
– If you need to reschedule, you must cancel 24 hours prior to your scheduled class time to avoid the $20 rescheduling fee.
Can I take lessons at my HOA or neighborhood pool?
Yes, you may take lessons at the pool in the neighborhood where you live if the HOA allows visitors and swim lessons.
**For more information about neighborhood eligibility or to nominate your neighborhood, please email [email protected]. We try to add new neighborhoods each year!
When are classes?
We teach May-September between the hours of 9 AM-8 PM (hours may vary by location).
When is tuition due?
Tuition is due at the time of registration.