Meet Our Dedicated Wings Over Water Aquatic Educators

Miss Karen - Aquatic director, Trainer, Instructor
Karen has been teaching students to swim for almost 2 decades. She has helped create and build 3 swim schools including Wings Over Water in Somers. As a seasoned aquatic director, she has led our team with positivity, encouragement and strength. Karen has studied swim techniques and water physics for 2 decades. She can teach all ages and abilities as well as coaching. She is english and spanish speaking and starting her journey into ASL.Her teaching style is creative and fun.
Motto: We can do hard things
Levels: All Levels and abilities

Therese Alden- Owner, Master Trainer, Program Developer, Instructor, International Organizer
Therese started her aquatic life at the age of 5 years old by attending her Moms swim classes. Then on to competitive swim teams, lifeguarding, instructor, and coaching USA swimming, as well as trained at the Olympic training center with olympic coach Bill Boomer. Is part of the United States Swim School organization. Master Trainer in our WOW Swimplicity Curriculum, her goal is that our WOW teacher team is highly trained to provide our students with great success. Serving the communities with water safety education and learn to swim programs for over 35 years. Today Therese is leading all teams at WOW Fairfield CT, Brewster NY and Somers, NY. Her ability to bring fun and happiness to all her students after 40 years is a joy to witness. The greatest gift my Mom gave me is to “say yes if you can!”
Levels: All Levels and Abilities
Levels: Water Babies, Parent & Tot, Adv. Parent & Tot, Goldfish, Otter, Tot, Super Tot, Angelfish, Starfish, Dolphin, Hotshot, Beginner, Beginner plus, Level 1.

Miss Edie - Social Media Manager, International Instructor
Edie Alden, growing up in the water with her Grandmother, Edie Flood, Founder and Creator of WIngs Over Water, started as a WOW waterbabies, in our learn to swim classes,then to competitive swimming and lifeguarding. She completed and recieved her Master Degree in New Paltz, NY.
Edie has had much experience with the WOW Swimplicity curriculum and the importance for all to learn. Edie is a leader in our international community service programs and volunteers with WOW to provide swim lessons to orphans in Mexico.
Edie loves art and music and is a master with social media, bringing joy to all!!

Miss Felicia- Instructor
Felicia has been teaching swimming for Wings Over Water Since 2024. Unfortunately, at 4 ½ she had a scary swim experience at a summer day camp which led her mother to immediately enroll Felicia into swim lessons at a local swim program. From there, she joined the swim team at 5 ½ and continued to swim competitively around the Westchester area until age 13, then as a lifeguard in college and lifelong lap swimmer. The water is a place for Felicia to feel relaxed and grounded to her true self. She credits her success in sports and as an special needs educator to the life lessons learned through competitive swimming. Especially courage, confidence, and healthy competition.Her teaching style is to keep things simple,relatable,show compassion and most of all, have fun!!
Levels - Parent & Tot, Adv. Parent & Tot, Angelfish, Starfish, Dolphin, Beginner, Beginner plus.

Miss Sandra - Instructor
Sandra has been teaching swim lessons since 2024. However, her swim journey started much earlier. She has been teaching her family members for years before joining our team. Growing up on an island is where Sandra's passion for the water began. When her daughter was born she continued to share her passion by enrolling her in WIngs Over Water. She saw that our philosophy of teaching love for water aligned with her passion.That experience, combined with her love of teaching and helping others, inspired her to return to Wings Over Water as an instructor. Swimming not only gives her a sense of freedom but also offers a powerful way to stay active, reduce stress, and build confidence. Sandra wants to share that feeling with her students, helping them grow comfortable and confident in the water.

Mr.Ian - Lifegaurd Instructor, International Instructor
Ian Alden, grew up in the water with his Grandma Edie Flood, Founder and Creator of Wings Over Water, and has been swimming since the age of 2 years old. Ian knows the importance of teaching and training our youth and adults in Lifeguarding.
As an American Red Cross Certified Instructor he is dedicated to all his students to become certified CPR, First Aid and Lifeguarding. He is very dedicated to training and provides American Red Cross training and Certifications for the WOW staff in Brewster NY, Fairfield CT and Somers NY. Ian’s goal is that our community learns and gets certified in these lifesaving skills. On a personal note, Ian is supportive and cares about the success of his students! Everyone enjoys taking his classes!!

Miss Jessica - Instructor
Jessica has been teaching for 2 years and has joined our team in 2024. She has swam competitively for years which inspired her to become an instructor. Even in her childhood, Jessica was drawn to the water. But never having swim lessons, she taught herself. Jessica uses creativity and easy breakdowns to connect with her students. She values the happiness of her students more than anything so they grow confident in the water.
Motto: progress doesn't happen unless you make it happen.

Miss Shamira (Miss Shimmy) - Instructor
Shamira has always loved the water. Her love really grew when she took lessons at Wings over Water in Brewster as a child. She has the best memories of swimming with her grandfather in the Caribbean ocean. Her love of the water continued as she joined competitive swim teams as a teen and into college. Now she loves teaching and swimming for fun. She has been teaching since 2004 but has joined our Instructor team in 2024. She is full of excitement to teach her students and looks forward to meeting you!