Meet Your Instructors
Every certified ISR Instructor undergoes 8 weeks of intensive and rigorous training, consisting of academic learning as well as hands on in-water training. All of your NEOISR instructors traveled 4-12 hours away from home for 6 weeks to receive their gold standard certified ISR training. Each Instructor is also required to go through a recertification process each year. All instructors must maintain active CPR and First Aid certification. Please see below for each instructor's location and upcoming schedule.
AMHERST/ OBERLIN
Julia Buddie
419.376.4636
Instagram: juliabuddie614
Facebook: Julia Buddie ISR
Julia teaches in Amherst and surrounding areas. Julia became a certified ISR instructor in 2015 after her oldest daughter, Stella went through the program. Her favorite part of teaching ISR is giving her students confidence in the water and building relationships with each family she meets.
Fall 2026: Amherst HealthPlex
September 14th 2026
https://www.webaccomplice.app/scheduler_app/lesson_types/jbuddie
Winter 2027: Oberlin Splashzone
Join waiting list:
https://www.webaccomplice.app/scheduler_app/initiate_waitlist/jbuddie/0/1
Emily teaches in Amherst and surrounding areas.
Emily has 10 years of experience in the learn to swim industry and became a certified ISR instructor in June 2021 after learning about ISR through the advocacy of Nicole Hughes, a mom who lost her 3 year old son to drowning. Her favorite part of teaching ISR is seeing how much progress her students make and how confident they become. Her daughter first went through the ISR program with Julia Buddie at 8 months old.
ON MATERNITY LEAVE THROUGH SUMMER 2026
Taking New Students Beginning in Early 2027 @ Amherst Healthplex
Join My Waitlist to be notified of my first 2027 session
Email emily.maple@infantswim.com with questions or inquiries
STRONGSVILLE & SEVEN HILLS
Kelsey Schultz
440.879.6366
Kelsey teaches at both Seven Hills and Strongsville Recreation Centers. Kelsey became a certified instructor in 2023 after her daughter went through the program both as a floater and a swim-float-swim student. Before becoming a mom, she helped adults learn how to live a healthy balanced life as a certified personal training and macro coach. Since having her daughter, she has formed a new passion for teaching young children these lifesaving skills & educating parents on true water safety. Her favorite part of ISR is watching the child's confidence grow both in and out of the water because of what they accomplish in lessons.
2026 Sessions FILLED
2027 Sessions
January 4th (Strongsville): FILLED
March 1st (Seven Hills): FILLED
May 3rd (Loc TBD): Enrollment opens Jan 8th @ 9am
Aug 30th or Sept 7th (Loc TBD): Enrollment opens Jan 8th @ 9am
Current Student Maintenance:
Join my email list to be notified of session enrollments and information.
Email kelsey.schultz@infantswim.com for more information!
Eric completed his ISR instructor certification in March of 2024. He lives and teaches in Avon and the surrounding areas of west side Cleveland. Eric teaches at a private residence indoor pool during winter, spring, and fall and his outdoor home pool during the summer. Eric is retired from Education, serving the special needs population for 22 years. His two daughters, Elle (12) and Evelyn (3) both went through the ISR program with Julia Buddie, who was a huge inspiration in becoming an ISR Instructor. Eric is looking forward to continuing to educate children, just in a different environment, and making sure that #NotOneMoreChildDrowns.
2026 ENROLLMENT
Aug 24th Session:
ONE SPOT AVAILABLE
10:10am
https://www.webaccomplice.app/scheduler_app/lesson_types/ej908
Nov 2nd Session: Filled
2027 Enrollment (TBD):
2027 Waitlist
HURON
Jessica Melching
jessica.melching@infantswim.com
440.773.9497
Instagram: isrwithjessica
Facebook: ISR With Jessica
Jessica completed her ISR certification in March 2026. She lives in Huron with her Husband and 3 children and has a background as an RN for almost 20 years. She will be teaching in Huron and surrounding communities starting April 2026. Her oldest son went through ISR with Julia Buddie in 2022 and ever since she has wanted to make ISR more available to her community. Watching how quickly children can learn these skills is amazing and seeing their confidence grow over the course of 6 weeks is the best part of being an ISR instructor.
2026 ENROLLMENT
JUNE 2026: Huron - Spots Available
Email jessica.melching@infantswim.com for sign up info
SEEKING INDOOR POOL IN HURON, NORWALK, SANDUSKY, PORT CLINTON FOR FALL 2026
Trisha completed her ISR certification in August 2026 and is very excited to make ISR available to Medina County. Trisha has been a paramedic since 2012 and, having seen the devastating impact of drowning, is eager to work towards ISR’s goal of #NotOneMoreChildDrowns. Both of her children took lessons with Kelsey Schultz in Strongsville, and after seeing what ISR did for them, especially her 7 year old with autism, she knew she wanted to be an instructor. She also completed training through IBCCES for Autism-Inclusive Aquatics Certification and wants families impacted by autism to know that every ISR lesson is individualized to support each child’s unique sensory, developmental, and emotional needs.
2026 Sessions
October 12 (Brunswick Rec Center): NOW ENROLLING
Click HERE to sign up for October!
Email trisha.deeb@infantswim.com for more information & be part of her email list!
With over 10 years of experience, Ann is passionate about equipping children with life-saving water survival skills while building confidence that lasts far beyond the pool. Ann brings patience, consistency, and a calm, encouraging presence to every lesson. She understands that each child is unique and carefully tailors instruction to meet individual developmental needs. Safety, trust and positive relationships with families are at the center of her approach. As both an instructor and a parent, Ann understands the trust families place in her. Her goal is not only to teach children how to survive in the water, but give parents greater peace of mind.
2026 Sessions
Sept 16th (Seven Hills): NOW ENROLLING
Email a.fuerst@infantswim.com to sign up and for more information!
In-Home Private Lessons
We have very limited availability for private in-home lessons each summer. Our mission is to get as many kids safe around the water as possible. In order to do that, we typically teach out of one location. Time spent driving to a private in-home lesson is time we could be spending teaching more children to self-rescue. Our in-home lesson is priced accordingly and charged per 10 minutes of travel time.
Travel Fee: Starts at $100+ a day NOT including regular tuition fees
If you are interested in in-home lessons and understand the premium pricing, please inquire with your desired instructor.