Send us a text This week on Navigating Neva, we’re joined by Beth—an aquatics and PE professional whose work spans Physical Education & Aquatics, Driver Education, coaching Women’s Varsity Swimming, Men’s Varsity Swimming, Women’s Water Polo, supporting Special Olympics Swimming, and serving as an American Red Cross LGIT/CPRIT. We get practical about what it takes to run a high-functioning high school aquatics program—the structure, the roles, the culture, and the non-negotiables that keep athletes safe while helping them grow. In this episode, we cover: High school aquatics program structureProgram model: teams, classes, and community use (when applicable)Staffing, supervision, and deck rolesWho does what, when it matters, and how to prevent “coverage gaps”Safety cultureBeth’s true non-negotiables and how they show up daily on deckSpecial Olympics swimmingInclusion, communication, and dignity on deckWhat good support actually looks like (staffing, pacing, environment)Success metrics beyond “times”Instructor/trainer lens (ARC LGIT/CPRIT)How Beth approaches training lifeguards and instructorsCommon gaps she sees—and how she fixes themMaintaining readiness and consistency across the seasonIf you’re a school aquatic director, coach, lifeguard supervisor, PE teacher, or facility leader, this one is a playbook episode—clear expectations, strong systems, and athlete-centered outcomes. Beth—thanks for being here. You can find Beth on insta Instagram: @hornetaquatics Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!
