"I love getting to share all of the knowledge that I have learned over my span as a dancer, as well as seeing kids get excited when they achieve something they have worked very hard for." - Katie

Katie was a student at Cole Academy from mommy and me classes until she graduated High School. She competed in dance, cheer, and took tumbling classes. She really found her niche as she excelled early on with dance. She started competing dance at a very young age and continued on our Dance Company until she graduated High School. Her tumbling and cheer experience helped her to be able to perform tricks and tumble in her dance routines. She is a very talented and well-rounded dancer that excells in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop.

Katie started assisting classes at a young age and started officially teaching her own classes in 2017. She has high expectations for her competitive students and also enjoys challenging her recreational students. She is a phenomenal role model to all.

She started at Ball State in 2019 and is a dance major. She performs in many college shows throughout the year. Katie also recently traveled to Spain for dance training.

She has earned two national titles as a dancer. She recently earned her first national title as a choreographer for her hip hop routine titled “Be Nice” featuring our Cole Kid and Junior Company dancers.

Her sweet and calming demeanor accompanied by her wealth of knowledge and experience make her an amazing teacher. She is a talented and dedicated and gives her all to everything that she does. She is humble and confident and our students love having her as their teacher!

- Maria

Maria is a beautiful dancer and an example of grace and poise to her students. She is very passionate and has dedicated years to master her craft. Maria started teaching at Cole in 2020 while attending Ball State. She works with both recreational and competitive dancers, including our oldest and most advanced level ballet classes.

Maria graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from Ball State University. She has studied multiple forms of dance over the past 18 years including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary and Musical Theatre. She has had so many amazing opportunities working with well-known choreographers, with a highlight being in a piece with Sidra Bell. She has even worked on dance films that have been featured in film festivals!

We are so lucky to have such a talented dancer and instructor on staff to share her experience and knowledge with our students. She is so sweet, kind, and patient as she works with students as young as 4 to as old as 18. She is engaged and invested in her students’ progress in her classes. She is a joy to have as part of our dance staff and is very committed to making the dancers the best they can be.

"I love to be able to make an impact in my students’ lives, and watch them improve while they are with me! There is nothing more rewarding than having my kids come to practice excited to be here each week." - Becca

Becca was a student at Cole Academy where she participated in dance, cheerleading, and tumbling classes growing up. She is a very enthusiastic instructor, always positive and motivating to her students.

She started instructing in 2019. Becca graduated from Delta High School, attended college at Ball State University, and is now studying esthetics at Summit Salon Academy.

As a warrior and gymnastics instructor, she prides herself in always looking out for new drills and skills that she can implement in the gym with her students! She has been with Cole for 16 years- as a student and now an instructor, so she is very familiar with the facility and staff!

"Cheer is my passion and the gym is my happy place. I love helping our athletes increase their skills as well as their confidence. I take pride in being a coach who cares not just about an athletes skill, but also the athlete as a whole and strive to make sure that they accomplish their goals both in cheer and in life!" - Amy

Amy trained in gymnastics from age 2 until 5th grade at Muncie Gymnastics. She transitioned to cheer and cheered at Yorktown Schools from 8th-12th grades. Amy was the captain of her squad in 9th and 12th grade and was on Varsity 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. She went on to cheer at Ball State University for 2 years.

She graduated from Yorktown High School in 1994 and graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics in 2000. She is currently a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. She has been in her current position as the ICU and PCU RD since 2007.

Amy started coaching at Cole in February of 2005! She started shortly after the cheer program was established and has been a huge part of our growth and success. She has over 20 years of coaching experience in cheer and tumbling. She coached at Yorktown High School for 5 years prior to coaching at Cole. She has worked very hard to increase her knowledge and abilities in stunt and tumbling technique. She has learned over the years to teach and spot at the highest level and works with some of our most advanced tumbling students to reach their goals. She is known to be able to help many of our students reach their goal of learning and executing a round-off, back handspring, full.

Amy has been the coach of many award winning teams over the years. She enjoys working with all students and excels with our Middle and High School athletes. She has coached hundreds of Cole cheerleaders and has been a huge part of their memories and achievements and our legacy as a cheer program.

She has been USASF Certified in Stunting and Tumbling for levels 1, 2, and 3 since 2014. She also is CPR/First Aid and AED certified. She takes education seriously and takes a lot of pride in her training with the athletes. She has the experience, knowledge base, and passion that it takes to make a phenomenal coach. Amy truly cares about each and every athlete that she has ever worked with works with them to be the best they can be!