OUR INSTRUCTORS
Dr. Monica Lepore
Dr. Monica Lepore is a professor at West Chester University where she educates college students about disability studies and does professional preparation of health and physical education majors in the area of adapted physical education. She has been involved in adapted aquatics since 1978 as a former American Red Cross Adapted Aquatics Instructor and current AAPAR Master Teacher of Adapted Aquatics. In the past 7 years she has received the John Williams Adapted Aquatics Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame; the AAPAR Adapted Physical Activity Council Professional of the Year Award; the Pennsylvania Adapted Physical Activity Professional of the Year; the Delaware County PA Down Syndrome Interest Group Professional of the Year; Rotary Club Leader of Distinction Award; Educator 500 award; and the AAALF Aquatic Council Honor Award. She is the lead author of Adapted Aquatic Programming textbook 2nd edition published through Human Kinetics, and the DVD 'Intro to Adapted Aquatics' through Sprint Aquatics. She is currently the chairperson of the Adapted Aquatics Committee of the Council of Aquatic Professionals of the American Association of Physical Activity and Recreation.
Lana Whitehead
Lana Whitehead has owned and operated SWIMkids USA for over 37 years. Her swimming program is the result of Lana's Master's thesis which included four research projects tested and researched at Arizona State University. Lana has authored several swimming books, articles, videos, and has lectured nationally for professional educational forums. Her method has been featured on Good Morning America, That’s Incredible, Disney’s Epcot Magazine, Montel Williams Show, PM Magazine and Omni’s Medical Documentary.
Ms. Whitehead received a BA in Exercise Physiology and a Masters in Special Education, specializing in Sensory Integration and training children with disabilities, including signing to the deaf. She holds Arizona and California Teaching Certificates and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. She is also certified in American Red Cross WSI, Lifesaving, CPR and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer and YMCA Adaptive Swimming Instruction.
Lana has been involved in competitive swimming as a coach, State and National USA Swimming Official. She and her team continually strive to meet higher standards in the industry by attending numerous training workshops and seminars at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, United States Swim School Association and the World Aquatic Baby Congress. |
