Meet Our Team


 

Haley Craig | Owner & Swim Instructor

I'm Haley, and swimming has been my passion for as long as I can remember.

I've been teaching for 17 years. In 2017, after having my daughter, I knew it was time to stop waiting and build something of my own. That's when Haley's Little Fish was born. What started as a dream turned into something I'm incredibly proud of. We've now taught thousands of kids across Baldwin County and beyond, and that number grows every single session.

What we do here saves lives. I mean that literally. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and every child who leaves this program is safer because of it. Watching a kid go from terrified to fearless in the water, knowing I played a part in that, is the most rewarding feeling in the world. That never gets old, not after one lesson, not after seventeen years.

We work with children of all ages and abilities. The one-on-one time matters. The relationships matter. The small breakthroughs that only a parent and an instructor notice, those matter most of all. Every child who comes through this program deserves patience, encouragement, and an instructor who genuinely cares about their success.

That's the standard here. It always has been.

I'm grateful for every family who chooses to trust us with their child. That trust means everything, and we don't take it lightly.

 

 

Alysha Smith-Wallace | Lead Swim Instructor

I'm Alysha, a mom of two boys and a Baldwin County native. If I'm not in the water, I'm at the ball field cheering on my oldest.

Growing up on the coast, I know swimming isn't optional. It's a life skill, and for kids in this area, it matters. As a parent, I also know what it means to hand your child off to someone and trust that they're in good hands. I don't take that lightly.

I chose Haley's Little Fish because this place does it right. Kids are encouraged, patient instruction is the standard, and safety and fun go hand in hand. That's what I want for my own kids, and it's exactly what I bring to every child I teach.

My goal is simple. Help every kid build real skills, feel genuinely comfortable in the water, and walk away proud of how far they've come, no matter where they started.

 

 

Cheryl Corvo | Swim Instructor

I'm Cheryl and swimming has been my life for over 25 years.

I started as a competitive year-round swimmer, went on to swim collegiately at the University of West Florida, and have spent the last decade coaching at every level, from competitive youth teams like Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club and Auburn Aquatics, to adults and triathletes through US Masters Swimming. I'm USMS and USA Swimming certified, and I bring all of that to every lesson I teach.

But the moment that never gets old? Watching someone who was terrified of the water laugh and swim with confidence. That transformation is everything.

I teach the full picture, floating, breathing, all four strokes, flip turns, treading water, and real technique. Whether a child is chasing a spot on a swim team or a parent just wants to know their kid is safe in the water, I show up ready to meet them where they are.

Swimming is a life-saving skill and a lifelong sport. I believe that with everything I have, and I can't wait to share that with the kids and families at Haley's Little Fish.

 

 

Montana Williams, OTR/L | Swim Instructor & Certified Swim Whisperer®

I'm Montana, a Daphne mom of two girls, a pediatric Occupational Therapist with 10+ years of experience, and a Swim Angelfish® Certified Swim Whisperer®.

My passion for water safety started right here at Haley's Little Fish, when I placed my own daughter in Haley's hands for survival swimming. That moment changed everything. Now both of my girls are little fishies, and I've made it my mission to give every child that same fighting chance.

Here's a number that stops me cold: 90% of pediatric deaths within the Autism Spectrum population are caused by accidental water incidents. That statistic drives everything I do.

I specialize in adaptive swim instruction for children with sensory needs, behavioral challenges, developmental delays, anxiety, genetic conditions, musculoskeletal differences, and more. As an OT, I don't just teach swimming. I bring sensory regulation, environmental modifications, visual and auditory processing strategies, and therapeutic techniques into the water with me. No two kids are alike, and no two lessons will ever be identical.

I will meet your child exactly where they are. I can't promise a timeline, but I can promise I will work endlessly to help your child be safe in the water and walk with your family every step of the way.

The process is long. The journey is worth it.

 

 

Hallie Rush | Swim Instructor

I'm Hallie, and I've known how to swim for as long as I can remember.

Growing up in Connecticut with a safety-conscious mom, survival swim lessons weren't optional. They were just part of life. I'm living proof of what that does for a kid. The confidence, the independence, the instinct to know exactly what to do in the water. That foundation never leaves you.

Teaching kids has always been in my DNA. Growing up as a pastor's child, I was surrounded by children and naturally stepped into leading and mentoring roles. That path took me all the way to Yosemite National Park, where I spent three years as Lead Teacher at YNPCCC, one of the most formative experiences of my life.

Then I became a survival swim instructor, and everything clicked into place.

There is nothing like watching a child go from hesitant to fearless in the water. Knowing I get to be part of that, and that what I'm teaching them could one day save their life, pushes me to show up fully for every single kid.

I can't wait to meet your little fishie and cheer them on every step of the way.

 

 

Ashton Baugh | Swim Instructor

I'm Ashton, a kindergarten teacher, a mom, and now a swim instructor at Haley's Little Fish.

Teaching has been my calling since I was young. I've built my career around it, earning both a bachelor's and master's degree in Elementary Education and teaching kindergarten since 2017. I know how to meet kids where they are, earn their trust, and make them proud of what they can do.

But this role is personal too. My son Walker is a proud graduate of the HLF survival program and is now learning to swim. I've watched firsthand what these lessons do for a child, and I've felt firsthand what it means as a parent to know your kid is safer in the water. That peace of mind is everything.

That's exactly why I'm here. To give other families what Haley's Little Fish gave mine.

Knowing your child is learning a skill that could save their life is priceless. I'm going to show up for every kid the same way I show up in my classroom, with patience, encouragement, and a whole lot of fun along the way.

I can't wait to see your little fish in the pool.

 

 

Katie Schnute, RT | Swim Instructor

I'm Katie, and water has been home to me my entire life.

It started in the Gulf as a kid, carried through competitive swimming in high school, and led me to a career as a Recreational Therapist where I found adaptive aquatics and never looked back. Every chapter of my life has pointed me back to the water, and back to kids.

My passion is teaching children of all abilities to swim safely and confidently. Not just to survive the water, but to love it and respect it. As a Recreational Therapist, I know how to read a child, adapt on the fly, and build a lesson around what that specific kid needs on that specific day. No cookie cutter approach. Just real, intentional teaching.

The moment a child conquers something they didn't think they could do, whether it's a kick, a breath, or their first lap, that's everything. I will cheer for every single one of those moments like it's the biggest win in the world, because for that child, it is.

Being part of what Haley has built here isn't something I take lightly. This place changes kids' lives, and I get to show up every day and be part of that.

I can't wait to meet your little swimmer.