When students walk into the swimming wellness activity class this semester, they may see a familiar face.
Siloam Springs High School’s swimming coach, Stephanie Goddard, is now teaching this wellness activity at John Brown University.
Goddard has coached the Siloam Springs swimming team for 13 years. Goddard said she takes a different approach to teaching the wellness class as opposed to coaching her team.
“With the [wellness] activity its endurance as opposed to speed,” said Goddard. “I want my activity class to use swimming as a lifetime exercise and in case of an accident or disaster [they should] be able to survive.”
While this is just her second semester teaching on campus, Goddard is no stranger to the University and its facilities.
Siloam Springs High School hosts its home swim meets and weekly practices at the Walton Lifetime Health Complex pool.
Goddard, a 1992 JBU graduate, currently teaches special education, algebra and geometry in addition to coaching.
After the University’s previous swim teacher left to take a coaching position at another university, the Health Sciences Division needed a replacement.
Brian Greuel, chair of the Division of Natural & Health Sciences, said they looked for someone local with experience teaching.
“As an alumna of JBU with over 16 years of experience as a teacher and swim/dive coach for the Siloam Springs School District, Stephanie Goddard fit the bill perfectly,” said Greuel. “We were able to do some creative scheduling to make it possible for her to teach this class for us, while also continuing her present position with the school district.”
As part of the swimming class, Goddard will bring her high school swimmers along to teach different stroke mechanics.
Senior Broderick Wilson, who works at the health complex said having a familiar person teaching the wellness swimming course helps provide Christian outreach to students.
“She will help to make sure students have more than an athletic connection, but a spiritual experience as well,” he said.