Our Pod.
2 Locations
around Portland, OR
5+ Coaches
Founder / Owner
I am the founder of DolFUN. I am married and a mother Spencer and Bryce, stepmother to Forrest, Jacob and Jessilyn.
I don’t remember learning to swim, I do remember at the age five, my mother being successful at begging the swim team coach to let me on the team. In 1994, I re-discovered my love of the water when I started Aqua-Tot classes with my first son Spencer when he was only 18 months old. A passion was instilled in me to inspire other families with infants on why and how it is safe to bring them back to the water after their birth. My enthusiasm began to grow for educating all ages, all stages and all abilities in the water. I then began my journey in establishing DolFUN SWIM Academy and creating a SAFE, FUN and JOYful aquatic environment where families can gain a positive experience through water safety and learning to swim. I am dedicated for life to passing on the blessings that this wonderful world of water has offered myself and others. I am intent on teaching families about all the layers of drowning prevention and that swimming lessons an important layer of protection.
I am privileged to be surrounded by an amazingly talented, knowledgeable, devoted and loving staff, we graciously call our DolFUN Pod.
I also pass my passion to others through presenting domestically and internationally in such countries as Australia, China, England, Figi, Hawaii, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Vancouver B.C.
United States Swim School Association Member (USSSA). USSSA Infant Toddler Committee Member, coop writer of the course. USSSA Infant Toddler Course Presenter. Swimagine Institute Faculty member.
“I met Debbie, the owner in 2002 when I enrolled with my first child in the Aqua Babies class. I was immediately hooked. I am a mother of Dominique, Thomasina and Sterling and they have all gone through the DolFUN Aqua Babies and learn to swim program. I’ve swam competitively all my life and now I get to teach what comes naturally to myself and children. I have the privilege every day to spend time with many incredible children. Over the two to five years of teaching a child, I get to be a part of them developing, maturing and growing into confident and amazing little people and young adults. I feel like I have many second families. I also love developing and teaching our teachers to teach. Everyday teaching at the pool has an amazing moment. This is a job that is challenging and also keeps me smiling and laughing throughout the day, I couldn’t ask for a better job.”
Certified in First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard Professional Rescue, CPO-Certified Pool Operator. DolFUN Master Level Certificate. USSSA Infant Toddler Course Master Achievement Certificate for Online, Classroom and Water Class.
“I met Debbie, the owner in 2002 when I enrolled with my first child in the Aqua Babies class. I was immediately hooked. I am a mother of Dominique, Thomasina and Sterling and they have all gone through the DolFUN Aqua Babies and learn to swim program. I’ve swam competitively all my life and now I get to teach what comes naturally to myself and children. I have the privilege every day to spend time with many incredible children. Over the two to five years of teaching a child, I get to be a part of them developing, maturing and growing into confident and amazing little people and young adults. I feel like I have many second families. I also love developing and teaching our teachers to teach. Everyday teaching at the pool has an amazing moment. This is a job that is challenging and also keeps me smiling and laughing throughout the day, I couldn’t ask for a better job.”
Certified in First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard Professional Rescue, DolFUN Master Level Certificate. USSSA Infant Toddler Online Course
I started swimming when I was a very young child. I was the pool rat at the local pool for years. From age 5 until about age 12, I would be at the pool from about 6am, and wouldn’t leave until the pool closed every day. When I was 12, I became a “Junior Lifeguard” through Portland Park and Recreation. After that, I joined the local swim team, where I swam until I was 15. Then I became a lifeguard and swim instructor.
Eventually, I moved onward with the City of Portland, and became an Aquatic Manger for a few summers until I decided to go back to school, to focus on my degree as a certified EMT. During college, I worked part-time as a lifeguard at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Eventually, I became the Aquatic Manager. I also co-coached their swim team. I now hold my B.A in Liberal Arts with minor in Elementary Education. I am currently working on my Masters Decree in Elementary Education. I have been working with DolFUN SWIM Academy since 2008 as an Aquatic Educator and their Junior Lifesaving Camp Coach. I love the interaction with the children and helping them meet their goals every day.
Certified in First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard Professional Rescue, DolFUN Master Level Certificate. USSSA Infant Toddler Online Course
I joined the DolFUN family after seeing one of Debbie Sayers presentation at the first Baby Fest Expo in Portland. I was amazed at the work that she has done with the development needs of children and how she incorporated those needs appropriately in their swimming lesson even with babies as young as 2 months old. I knew that this was the next step in swimming I was looking for. I started swimming when I was five years old and never really left the water after that. I was on competitive swim teams and then started working as a lifeguard and swim instructor when I was 16. I taught in the Portland Parks program for 7 years, then I moved to Salem where I taught and coached in a Swim America program for 3 years. After moving back to Portland, studying Child and Family Studies at PSU and trying out other things, the water called to me and I started looking for a swim program that would push my knowledge of the water even further. Thus I started working for DolFUN SWIM Academy in 2014.
Seeing how my own children love the water has really been a joy for me. They both love being in the water as much as I do. It keeps pushing me to help all the children that I teach understand how the water can bring them joy in their movement through it. Watching all of our DolFUN families grow and the children’s enthusiasm for swimming develop into a passion is truly amazing.
I have also had the opportunity to become a Certified Lifeguard Trainer through Starfish Aquatics and Community Outreach Coordinator while working for DolFUN. This was an exciting extension of my knowledge of lifeguard practices and first aid/CPR skills and sharing knowledge about safety and drowning prevention.
Certified in First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard Professional Rescue, DolFUN Master Level Certificate. USSSA Infant Toddler Online Course
DolFUN Dollars
