The Premier Coaching Staff

Ms. Karen is the owner and an instructor at Premier Gym and Cheer. She graduated from Baldwin High School where she was a 3 time MVP, team captain and BHS Hall of Fame inductee for the sport of gymnastics. She continued her gymnastics career at Lock Haven University under an athletic scholarship. After a career ending knee injury, she completed her Elementary Education degree at Point Park College. With 30 years of gymnastics experience, she has what it takes to produce champions.

She fullfilled her childhood dream of coaching right out of highschool by coaching at a Pgh. area dance academy and at Baldwin High School. At the dance academy, she instructed and choreographed routines for children of all ages and ability levels. Her routines earned many National and High Score Titles. "To see the excitement in a child's eyes when they learn a new skill or when they perform to the best of their ability makes every minute of coaching worth it!" At Baldwin, she continues to work with athletes 9th grade- 12th grade. Ms. Karen worked for the dance academy for 9 years and still maintains her coaching status at Baldwin. Ms. Karen has also spent the last 8 years coaching cheerleaders in: backhandsprings, roundoff backhandspring, and multiple twists. "To see an athlete work for and achieve a skill they never thought possible is what coaching is all about." Ms. Karen has worked with cheer squads from T.J., Baldwin, West Mifflin, Keystone Oaks, Brentwood,Bethel Park, St. Elizabeth, South Park, Elizabeth Forward, and other area all-star squads.

Ms. Karen's teams, squads and individuals have earned many regional, state, WPIAL and National Titles. In response to those honors, she was asked to coach the national high school gymnastics team. Some of her students have used their gymnastic / cheerleading skills to earn college scholarships. Ms. Karen has also received many outstanding achievement awards from the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, state senate, South Hills Record and the Post-Gazette for her coaching honors.

Ms. Karen has her act 34 clearance. She is also safety, first aid and CPR certified.

Ms. Karen believes in the fact that, "Every child has it in them to be a champion; it's up to the positive influence of the right coach and the strong determination and will from the athlete to produce that positive outcome."

Ms.Becky has 15 years of gymnastics experience. She was a state and WPIAL champion gymnast in her high school years. Ms. Becky is also a WPIAL and STATE certified Gymnastics Judge. Ms. Becky has been coaching in our community since 1995. She is a asset to our program because when she is coaching her pure love for gymnastics and children just shine right through.

Ms. Becky is a graduated of Duquesne University with a major of Accounting.

Ms. Becky is safety certified, CPR certified and First Aid ceritfied.
 

Ms. Jodi is a well known gymnastics coach within the WPIAL and STATE gymnastics program. She is th assistant coach of the 9 time state champion Baldwin Gymnastics program. Ms. Jodi has experience spotting elite tumbling/gymnastics skills. In High School Ms. Jodi was a four time state champion. She knows what it takes to get any child to progress!Ms. Jodi has an extensive backround in working with pre-schoolers - high school level gymnasts.

Ms. Jodi graduated from Penn State in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Business Management.

Ms. Mary is a gymnastic instructor at Premier Gym and Cheer. She lives in the Jefferson Hills with her husband, Kevin. Ms. Mary started gymnastics when she was 5 and continued through high school competing for 10 years with USAG and 2 years with Baldwin High School. While competing for USAG, she was a Level 6 State Champion and a Level 9 Regional and National Qualifier. Ms. Mary graduated from Baldwin High School where she was a 2-time MVP, team captain, and Hall of Fame inductee for the sport of gymnastics both individually and with her team. She was a 2-time WPIAL All Around Champion, a PA Classic Uneven Bars Champion, and a member of two WPIAL and State Championship teams. Ms. Mary graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering. She then received her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University. She currently works at Eastman Chemical Company in West Elizabeth.

Ms. Mary started coaching when she was in high school and coached for 8 years. After a few years away from the sport, she returned to coaching at Premier and has been a gymnastics coach for the recreational and competitive programs for the last three years. She is also a PIAA Official for the sport of gymnastics judging both youth and high school meets.
 

Samantha competed in both USA gymnastics and WPIAL gymnastics. She has done
gymnastics for 13 years and has been involved in the sport
for longer than that now. She was a level 9 national qualifier, part of
the 2005 state champion team, and has many individual state titles. Sam
currently attends CCAC for special education and early childhood
education. She have been coaching gymnastics at Premier for 4 years now,
and Sam's favorite event is bars.

Ms. Kris has 12 years of personal gymnastics experience. She was a USAG state bars and vaulting champion (back in the day). She also qualified for and was invited to compete on James Madison University’s varsity gymnastics team. Ms. Kris has been a gymnastics coach for Premier since 2006 and had 2 years of prior gymnastics coaching experience before joining Premier. Ms. Kris loves working with kids, teaching gymnastics and doing gymnastics!

Ms. Kris’s education/employment:

Bachelor’s in Nursing from James Madison University in Virginia

Master’s in Nursing from University of Pittsburgh

Employed as a cardiology nurse practitioner-CRNP

CPR and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certified