Meet the Team!
Meet Carissa!
Founder, lead instructor, and teaching enthusiast since 2017! Carissa began teaching group and private swim lessons at Orchard Park Recreation in 2017, developing her own teaching and class style for two summers as a young instructor. She then moved on to teach at Hickory Hill Swim and Tennis Club for an additional two years, while beginning to work privately with clients to further develop her skills as an instructor! Carissa will be beginning Summer 2025 with over 900 documented teaching hours under her belt!
In 2022, Carissa developed Buffalo Swim Academy (LLC) as a full-time summer venture and immediately saw the need for focused, private swim lessons, especially in the Southtowns area. She developed a lesson program designed to make children capable of swimming or floating independently by the end of the summer session while also giving parents the tools to continue practicing these skills with their child. Her favorite part about teaching is building relationships with each family and their children and seeing each child's confidence and skill level rise at the end of the summer. They are always so proud of their independent swim skills!
While Buffalo Swim Academy is her passion during the summer, she is working hard to be your next veterinarian as a second-year DVM candidate at the Ontario Veterinary College! Outside of teaching, you'll find her relaxing with her pet rabbit Betty, enjoying endurance cycling and running, or trying different restaurants around Buffalo.
Important note: Starting in 2026, Carissa will only be teaching lessons for non-swimmers ages 5 and under (no stroke development lessons).
Credentials and Certifications
Red Cross Certified Lifeguard: 2017-Present
CPR/First Aid/AED Certified Yearly: 2017-Present
Certified Water Safety Instructor (WSI): 2018-Present
Superhero Swim Academy Coaches Course (8 weeks): 2023
BS in Biology: Canisius University
Meet Brittany!
Brittany is excited to be joining the team at Buffalo Swim Academy for her second summer in 2025! She started teaching swim lessons in high school where she grew up in Pennsylvania. She continued to teach throughout her undergraduate years and when grad school brought her to New York, she began teaching swim lessons and coaching the swim team at the Jewish Community Center. Brittany also has experience working with children with special needs, being trained at the JCC to teach the Ausome Swimmers Program (an adaptive swim program for children on the Autism spectrum). With over 10 years of experience, she is excited to return to teaching swim lessons to you and your little ones!
Brittany works as a chiropractor at Palmercare Chiropractic in Cheektowaga and loves to integrate her knowledge of the human body and movement in her lessons with a focus on water safety, technique, and of course fun!
In her free time, she loves to paddle board, jetski, and root for the Pittsburgh Penguins! She is looking forward to meeting you and your family and getting your little one to enjoy the water as much as she does!
Meet Alison!
Alison is excited to be teaching with Buffalo Swim Academy as an instructor this summer! Alison has spent the past three years teaching swim lessons to children of all ages at the North Forest Town Pool- the same place where she first learned how to swim! She finds joy in helping students build confidence in the water, watching their progress, and welcoming them back year after year.
Before becoming a certified lifeguard and swim instructor, Alison developed her own skills in the pool as a member of the Park Sharks at the Park Country Club. Her background in competitive swimming helps her create a fun, safe, and effective learning environment for swimmers of all ages.
Currently an undergraduate student at Villanova University, Alison enjoys reading, running, and spending time with friends when she's not studying! Her favorite things include sunshine, working with kids, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills. During the summer you'll find her teaching lessons, babysitting, and lifeguarding! She can't wait to meet you
and your family and fill another summer with swimming and smiles!
Meet Alicia!
Alicia is so excited to be joining Buffalo Swim Academy this summer! As a lifelong swimmer, Alicia knows how important swim lessons are for the safety of young ones around the water, and for peace of mind for parents.
Alicia started as a lifeguard and group swim instructor at the Rochester Yacht Club in 2019, and then moved to teaching private 1:1 swim lessons in 2023. She coaches camps for competitive swimmers through the University at Buffalo and is an alum of the UB Women's Swiming and Diving Team, where she specialized in sprint freestyle.
While at UB, Alicia studied Exercise Science on the Pre-Physical Therapy track. She loves to incorporate movement and the human body into her lessons! An internship at UB's Early Childhood Research Center also introduced her to play-based learning, which she finds very effective in motivating and engaging little ones throughout their lessons. She hopes one day to become a pediatric physical therapist! In her free time, Alicia loves to work out, read, and explore Buffalo. She is so excited to meet you and your kiddos and to get swimming this summer!