Hi, I’m Tessa Rhodes, swim instructor, swim school owner, and founder of the Online Swim Academy.
I help swim instructors and aspiring swim school owners turn their love of teaching into a structured, profitable, and sustainable business.
But I didn’t start here.
From Instructor to Business Owner
Years ago, I was working as a gymnastics instructor, earning hourly pay and feeling completely burned out. I loved teaching, but I didn’t love the stress, the lack of control, or the ceiling on my income.
That’s when everything changed.
With encouragement from my husband, I started my own private swim school. What began as a leap of faith became a thriving business that gave me freedom, flexibility, and the ability to truly make an impact.
Since 2013, I’ve built and operated a successful private swim school, helping families raise confident, water-safe children, while also learning firsthand what it really takes to run a profitable swim lesson business.
Why I Created the Online Swim Academy
Over time, other instructors started asking me:
- How did you start your swim school?
- What do you charge?
- How do you structure your lessons?
- How do you stay fully booked?
- What insurance do you need?
- How do you grow without burning out?
I realized so many talented instructors struggle, not because they can’t teach, but because no one teaches them how to build the business side.
That’s why I created the Online Swim Academy.
It’s designed to give you clear systems, practical strategies, and the confidence to start and grow your own swim school, even if you don’t have business experience.
What I Believe
I believe:
- Teaching swimming changes lives.
- Swim instructors deserve to earn well.
- You don’t need a giant facility to build a thriving swim school.
- Systems create freedom.
- Clarity removes fear.
You can start small. You can grow intentionally. And you can build a business that supports your life, not consumes it.
What You’ll Find Here
On this website, you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about:
- Teaching babies and kids to swim
- Structuring effective swim lessons
- Starting a private swim school
- Pricing and profitability
- Marketing and increasing enrollment
- Growing without overwhelm
Every article is written to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Ready to Build Your Swim School?
If you’re serious about starting or growing your swim lesson business, my step-by-step ebook:
Swimming in Profits: How to Start a Profitable Swim School Now (Even If You Don’t Have Experience)
will walk you through exactly how to do it.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
You can teach. You can lead. You can build something meaningful.
And I’m here to help you do it.