By Shanna Sudderth
This September marks a major milestone for Shanna Sudderth, who has dedicated 20 years to the Aquatics Department at YWCA Greenwich. Shanna reflected on her journey, the uniqueness of the program, and her passion for teaching water safety:
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years. I started as the Assistant Director and then was promoted to Director of Aquatics in 2019. This place has been such a huge part of my life these past two decades.
Shanna Sudderth, pictured in the center with Dolphin Babie participants.
Working with children and swim instruction has always been my passion. I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston, so working with children has always been a goal of mine. I spent summers lifeguarding and working at camps, so this career is the perfect mix of the two.
The Aquatics program at YWCA Greenwich is designed to be a lifelong program. We start swimmers as young as 6 months old, and they can stay with us through high school on our competitive swim team, the Dolphins. We even have senior aquatic classes. There’s really something for everyone here, and my staff does an amazing job of catering to each person so that everyone can feel comfortable and confident in the water.
One of our specialties is helping kids transition from being in the water with a parent or guardian to being with just an instructor. This usually happens in our Dolphin Tots level.
At that stage, it’s critical that instruction is personalized. I make it a point to speak with every family, build relationships, and ensure everyone feels comfortable. If a child is struggling, I do everything I can to find the right approach and instructor to help them succeed. I’ve seen it all from kids screaming in the parking lot to those same kids breaking records years later at the Connecticut championships. We call those transformations the ‘Shanna Banana Specials.’
Water safety is everything to me. I truly believe every person should know how to swim because it truly does save lives. No matter how challenging a student may be, I will always find a way to get them in the water.
Knowing that my work has had a positive impact on the Greenwich community is an incredible feeling. I’m so grateful for my staff and the way they support my mission to teach as many people as possible how to swim and stay safe around water. I would encourage anyone, whether you’re a beginner, a parent of a young child, or a senior looking for fitness options, to explore our programs. We have something for everyone, and we’re here to help you feel confident and safe in the water.
To learn more about Aquatics programs at YWCA Greenwich, visit ywcagreenwich.org.
Founded in 1919, YWCA Greenwich is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA Greenwich provides programs for people of all ages with initiatives that include preschool and after school programs, aquatics programs, youth athletics, health and fitness programs and seminars focusing on racial justice and women’s empowerment. Additionally, YWCA Greenwich is the only provider of both domestic and sexual violence services in Greenwich, with staff who are licensed to provide crisis intervention, counseling, shelter, and victim advocacy. These services are free.