Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Strieby.
Kelsey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I first learned of Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) when I was working as a nanny and personal assistant to a PGA TOUR professional and his family. Their three small children participated in lessons and I was astounded by the amazing skills these children were learning. I became very passionate about the program and later that year inquired about becoming an instructor. Shortly after my inquiry, life took an unexpected turn and I made the decision to move to Arizona. I spent five years working as a Clinical Specialist for Kimberly-Clark Pain Management and traveling across the United States assisting in spinal procedures before finding my way back to ISR.
In 2016, my husband and I enrolled our 18 months old son, Will, into ISR. From the moment he began lessons, the wheels in my head began to turn. I saw first hand what the program did for our son and I saw the impact I could have on the lives of so many children. In March 2017, we welcomed our second son, Hudson and after deciding not to return to my job, I knew I wanted to pursue a career as an ISR Instructor. Within two weeks of this decision, I was accepted and scheduled to begin my extensive training. I became a Certified ISR Instructor in September 2017 and have been making an impact in Fort Worth since early 2018! I could not be happier with my decision and am confident I have FINALLY found what I was meant to do all along!
Every session, I am amazed at how helpless children are transformed into aquatic problem solvers. I consider it pure joy and an incredible blessing to give these children the gift of a lifetime. I love meeting new people, educating others about the program and watching my students develop the confidence in themselves as swimmers.
With a passion for small children and making a difference in my community, I am ecstatic to offer ISR in Fort Worth!
Has it been a smooth road?
As with any career, there can be moments that are more challenging than others. For me, I have been blessed with a relatively easy road and each struggle I have faced has been an opportunity to grow not only as a person but as a small business owner. I believe the biggest challenges came in my early days. As a new business in the community, I was faced with the challenge of finding host pools, educating the community about the program and everything that goes along with kick starting a new business.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with ISR Fort Worth – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1 to 4 years old. Infant Swimming Resource is the product of over 45 years of research and development in the areas of drowning prevention and aquatic survival instruction. Infant Swimming Resource is the first and only nationally recognized program striving to change this statistic.
At ISR Fort Worth, we not only teach your child to be comfortable in the water but how to be SAFE in the water, should they ever find their way there alone. We offer daily one-on-one lessons over the course of a six weeks session to children ages six months – six years of age. All lessons are taught by Certified ISR instructor, Kelsey Strieby. Unlike traditional swim programs, ISR places a priority on our Self-Rescue® methods first and will always teach children a basic swim when age appropriate. Students ages six months – 15 months will learn to Self-Rescue® and students ages 16 months – six years will learn our Swim-Float-Swim sequence. We also follow strict safety protocols and staff, a RET team who will evaluate every child who participates in lessons.
Each survival swimming lesson is uniquely tailored to your child’s needs based on a comprehensive assessments and continual monitoring of your child’s health and skill attainment. We understand that every child learns at his or her own pace, and accordingly, your child will be gently guided through each skill level based on his or her level of development and readiness.
As a Certified ISR Instructor, I am highly trained both academically and in the water to teach ISR’s Self-Rescue method. I have completed an 8-week intensive training and certification program, which includes a minimum of 80 hours of supervised in-water training. The ISR Instructor training program also includes a challenging education component that focuses on subjects such as child psychology, physiology, and behavioral science. I am also required to complete annual reviews and re-certification to ensure that my skills and techniques continue to meet ISR’s high safety standards. Additionally, I am CPR and First Aid certified.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I LOVE FORT WORTH! There is something really special about living in a major metropolitan area that feels so much like a small town. The people here are wonderful and are incredibly supportive of small businesses. It is easy to become well connected and the people are very community-minded. I love the mix between sleepy Cowtown and vibrant up and coming city that Fort Worth possess. With outstanding restaurants, great shopping, incredible opportunities for kids and families and some of the best people on the planet, Fort Worth will always be one of my favorite cities!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.isrfw.com
- Phone: 925-464-0798
- Email: info@isrfw.com
- Instagram: @isr_fortworth
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/isrfw
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