Leadership
Dan Kimble
Manager of Aquatic Operations
KAC Swim Coach
Dan Kimble began with Kentwood Public Schools in July of 2024. He has been involved in aquatics for over 20 years and has a background in both aquatic operations and competitive swimming. He began in aquatics in 2001 with the Holland Aquatic Center as lifeguard, and then moving to lifeguard instructor, swim instructor and swim coach for Tulip City Aquatic Club, West Michigan Swimmers, and Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics. From 2012 to 2024, he was with MVP Sports Clubs as both an Aquatics Manager and Corporate Safety Manager. He has also coached for West Ottawa Swim Club, Hope College, and also Holland High School, where he led the Girl's Swim & Dive team as head coach to a MHSAA DII State Championship in 2014. Additionally, he has been involved with the American Red Cross as a Lifeguard Instructor since 2009, and is both a Red Cross certified Lifeguard Instructor Trainer and Water Safety Instructor Trainer since 2013.
Dan was a swimmer for Holland High School and Grand Valley State University, and is currently an Assistant Swim Coach with Davenport University.
Dan and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Holland and have two children, Nora and Liam.
Email Dan at daniel.kimble@kentwoodps.org
He teaches: KAC - USA & Age Group, Lifeguard Training, 5th Grade Program, Preschool, Private Lessons
Hope Schaaf
Aquatic Instructional Coordinator
KAC Swim Coach
Hope Schaaf began working at the Kentwood Aquatics Center in August of 2025. Hope has experience teaching Preschool Aquatics and Learn-to-Swim lessons. She will coordinate the fitness programs, swim lessons, KIDS Swim, 5th Grade program. Hope was a swimmer with Jenison Public Schools and JAWS age group swimming. She also worked with Jenison Aquatics for 8 years as a lifeguard, age group swim coach, swim lesson instructor, and swim lesson coordinator. In 2022, Hope graduated from Hope College with degrees in Elementary Education and Spanish K-12 Education. She taught 1st Grade Spanish Immersion for Jenison Public Schools and Grand Rapids Christian Schools for a couple years before diving full-time into the aquatics world.
Outside of the pool, Hope enjoys coaching tennis, playing the piano, listening to music, doing puzzles, watching musical theatre, and spending time with family.
Email Hope at hope.schaaf@kentwoodps.org
She teaches: Learn-to-Swim, 5th Grade Program, Preschool, Private Lessons, KAC Age Group
Call Hope Book a Lesson
Marisa Visser
Lifeguarding Coordinator
KAC Swim Coach
Marisa Visser began with KAC in February of 2026, coming from MVP Athletic Clubs in Holland where they worked as Aquatic Manager since 2021. As Lifeguarding Coordinator with Kentwood Aquatics, they will organize and schedule public Red Cross Lifeguard Training courses, lifeguard in-service training, and lifeguard scheduling. Marisa also has experience as an instructor and lifeguard working at various pools, including Zeeland Rec dept and a swim school in Texas. Marisa is a certified Lifeguarding Instructor and Instructor Trainer through the American Red Cross, and also is a certified Aqua Combat fitness instructor.
Marisa lives in Holland and enjoys camping and adventuring with their wife Aspen and dog Emma.
Email Marisa at marisa.visser@kentwoodps.org
They teach: 5th Grade Swim Program, Lifeguard Training, Preschool Swim lessons, KAC Age Group, Private Swim Lessons and Water Fitness
Call Marisa Book a Lesson
Kentwood Aquatic Club
Emin Agic
KAC Swim Coach
Lifeguard Instructor
Emin has lived in Kentwood and attended KPS schools all of his life. He swam with the Boys Swim and Dive team during his time at East Kentwood High School. Emin has been an employee at the KPS Aquatic Center for seven years as a lifeguard and assistant manager while also spending the last four years coaching age group competitive swimming with Grand Rapids Aquatic Club. Emin is a certified Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor and holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Davenport University.
Outside the pool he likes to travel and follow the Premier League.
He teaches: 5th Grade Swim Program, Lifeguard Training, KAC - USA, KAC - Age Group
Lifeguard Instructors
Alicia Mortz
Lifeguard Instructor
Swim Instructor
Alicia Mortz began working at Kentwood Aquatic Center in January of 2014. Alicia has been a certified lifeguard for 12 years and swim instructor for 10 years. Through the years, Alicia has lent a hand in leading Water Aerobics Classes, assisting in KIDS Swim Boot Camp, and supporting the facility in weekend competitions. Alicia has a true passion for teaching learners of all ages how to swim and the importance of water safety.Alicia was a competitive swimmer for over 13 years in the Kentwood District as well as a Water Polo player for over 7 years.
Outside of the aquatic center, Alicia spends her free time traveling the world with her husband, fishing with friends at the lake, and exploring new places in Michigan with her niece and Sister.
She teaches: Lifeguard Training, Adult lessons, Learn-to-Swim, Private Lessons Book a Lesson
Cara Eastman
Lifeguarding Instructor
Swim Instructor
Cara joined the KPS Aquatic Center staff in September of 2024 as a lifeguard instructor and has been teaching public Lifeguard Training courses and lifeguard in-service training. She has a background in competitive swimming, having competed for both Northview High School and the North Kent Aquatic Team (NKATS). Cara also has four years of coaching experience with NKATS age group swimmers. She spent two years as a lifeguard with MVP Sports Clubs before becoming certified as a Water Safety Instructor and has experience teaching Red Cross Preschool and Learn-to-Swim swim lessons.
Outside the pool, Cara is pursuing a degree in Mathematics Education at Ferris State University, with the goal of becoming a high school math teacher.
She teaches: Lifeguard Training, KIDS Swim, Preschool, Private Lessons Book a Lesson
Chelsea Engelsman
Lifeguard Instructor
Fitness Instructor
Chelsea Engelsman began working at Kentwood Aquatic Center in 2022. Over the past 2 years with KAC, she has been involved in teaching fitness classes, KIDS swim, and is now a certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. In 2025, she became certified as a Lifeguard Instructor, and now coordinates the public Lifeguard Training and KAC lifeguard in-service training.
Chelsea was a competitive swimmer for over 15 years, swimming for Zeeland Public Schools, Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics and finishing her swim career at Davenport University. She also played water polo at Zeeland for 7 years. She has been involved in teaching and coaching swimming in the West Michigan area for over five years, and has now begun coaching for Kentwood Public Schools with the middle school programs for both swimming and water polo.
Outside of the pool, Chelsea has her own Permanent Jewelry business where she gets to travel around and meet new and interesting people.
Email Chelsea at chelsea.engelsman@kentwoodps.org
She teaches: Lifeguard Training, Water Fitness
Alex Saum
Fitness Instructor
Lifeguard Instructor
Alex is a 2014 graduate of East Kentwood High School where he competed in both varsity swim and water polo. He began working at Kentwood Aquatic Center in July of 2023 and brings over 14 years of aquatics experience through his time at KAC, Stonewater Country Club, and the Mary Free Bed YMCA. He has been a Red Cross certified lifeguard since 2011 and also holds an LGI certification as of June 2025. He serves as a lifeguard, pool manager, swim instructor, and fitness instructor for KAC. Alex also coaches and has served as a head coach for middle school water polo and as an assistant coach for high school swimming.
Outside of the pool, Alex remains a member of the Kentwood community and enjoys spending time with his family and dog.
He teaches: Water Fitness, Private Lessons Book a Lesson
Fitness Instructors
Asyia Shank
Fitness Instructor
Pool Manager
Asyia began working at KPS in September of 2024 as a lifeguard. She has helped teach KIDS Swim lessons and in January of 2025 began teaching Water Fitness classes. Asyia was born and raised in Fairbanks Alaska, and has been a competitive swimmer for 15 years swimming both club and school swimming in Alaska. She is currently studying at Davenport University, where she is a member of the Swimming & Diving team.
Outside of the pool, she is a waitress at Beer City Bread Co. and she enjoys walking dogs and watching movies with friends. She also played competitive hockey for 10 years.
She teaches: Water Fitness, KIDS Swim Book a Class
Chris Jackson
Fitness Instructor
Pool Manager
Chris Jackson has been a longtime supporter and contributor at Kentwood Public Schools. All five Chris' kids are Kentwood graduates and adults living on their own, and he has been retired almost 4 years after great careers at both Target and Marshalls. He also helps with many school programs including middle school water polo. Chris has worked at the Kentwood Aquatic Center since 2011, and in December 2024 began teaching water fitness classes.
Outside the pool, you might catch him cycling outside, or leading various Young Life activities for young students. He also claims to be the oldest certified lifeguard ever known to man, so be sure to ask him how old he is.
He teaches: Water Fitness, 5th Grade Swim Program Book a Class
Molly Cooper
Fitness Instructor
Pool Manager
Molly Cooper just started working at Kentwood Aquatics Center in February after recently retiring from a teaching career working with students with autism. Water has always played an important role in Molly's life, starting on a swim team at the age of 5 and swimming competitively through high school, to growing up on a lake and owning a house with a swimming pool. She understands the importance of safety in and around the water and is excited to be lifeguarding at the aquatic center. Although retired from teaching in a classroom setting, she still enjoys teaching and brings that passion to instructing the water fitness classes she teaches.
Outside of the aquatic center, Molly spends her free time traveling with her husband Tom (to visit their 3 kids who live in various places in this world), and biking, hiking, swimming, and reading.
She teaches: Water Fitness Book a Class
Elise Miller
Swim Instructor
Fitness Instructor
Elise began working at Kentwood Aquatic Center in the spring of 2025. She is a certified lifeguard and swimming instructor. She started with the KIDs Swim program and in the winter of 2026 began teaching group swim lessons at the aquatic center, and became a lead instructor for the KIDs Program. She is also a water fitness instructor with experience leading engaging and inclusive fitness classes. She has been a competitive diver for 4 years, diving for Caledonia High School, and is in her second year as a diver at Davenport University.
Outside the pool, Elise will be studying Accounting at Davenport University. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, and being outdoors.
She teaches: KIDs Swim, Learn-To-Swim, Water Fitness Book a Class
Maizie Bollone
Fitness Instructor
Maizie Bollone began working at KPS Aquatic Center in March of 2023. She have been a certified lifeguard for 2 years and worked at KAC since obtaining her Lifeguarding certification. Maizie has led water fitness since Spring 2025 and has also helped out with swim lessons. She has swam competitively for 3 years and swim in the summers on a club team. She also has experience guarding at Stonewater Country Club and the YMCA in Caledonia.
Outside KPS Aquatic Center, she enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends and picking up new hobbies.
She teaches: Water Fitness Book a Class
Pool Managers
Thomas Kirkland
Pool Manager
Swim Instructor
Thomas Kirkland Started with East Kentwood In December of 2022. He has been involved in aquatics as a Swim Instructor for 3 years and a lifeguard since November of 2024 for East Kentwood Aquatics. He has been teaching KIDs Swim lessons since winter 2024, and is now teaching Learn-to-Swim, a KIDs Swim lead, and 5th Grade program. He was a swimmer for East Kentwood High School and has been swimming since 2018.
He teaches: 5th Grade Swim Program, Learn-to-Swim, KIDS Swim, Private Lessons Book a Lesson
Mercedes Swinton
Pool Manager
Mercedes began working at Kentwood Aquatic Center in the winter of 2024 and has been a certified lifeguard for 2 years. She graduated from East Kentwood High School in 2025 and is now attending GVSU. Mercedes swam and played water polo for EKHS and is now playing for GVSU.
Outside the pool, she loves to knit.
Nejla Duric
Pool Manager
Nejla has been working at the aquatic center since January 2025. She has been a certified lifeguard for 3 years and has also been a KIDS Swim Instructor. Nejla has been a competitive swimmer for 7 years and water polo player for 4 years at East Kentwood High School. She has recently became a Pool Manager in the Summer of 2026.
Nejla enjoys being around people and the water even outside of sports and work. She spends most of her summers at the beach and with her 20+ family members.
Swim Instructors
Emma-Claire Sleighter
Swim Instructor
Emma-Claire Sleighter started working at Kentwood Aquatics in the summer of 2025, she has had her lifeguard certification for over 2 years and began teaching swim lessons in the Winter of 2025. She teaches KIDS swim lessons and is now teaching Learn-to-Swim group swim lessons.
Outside of the pool, she attends East Kentwood High School where she participates in Cross Country along with Track and Field. She also loves spending time outdoors and hanging out with friends.
She teaches: KIDS Swim, Learn-to-Swim, Private Lessons Book a Lesson
Bradlee Viau
Swim Instructor
Dive Instructor
Bradlee began working at Kentwood Aquatic Center in the fall of 2023 as a lifeguard. In November of 2024, he got certified as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, and now helps with KIDS Swim lessons. Bradlee started competitive diving for East Kentwood in late 2023 and qualified for MHSAA Division 1 state championships in 2025, he also is a manager for the East Kentwood girls water polo team.
In his free time, Bradlee also is in the Marching and Jazz bands at East Kentwood High School.
He teaches: KIDS Swim, KIDS Dive Book a Lesson
