Joan Arpe was introduced to Infant Swimming Resource 17 years ago.
Arpe's 3-year-old niece, Sarah, had struggled during basic swim lessons. Her mom, Mary, concerned for the girl's safety in the water, enrolled her in an ISR program.
Officina Del Tempo Fake"Three days later, she could swim/blow/swim," Arpe said of her niece. "(Mary) called me and said, 'Joan, this is a brilliant program. You've got to see it.' "
Arpe, 56, a longtime surfer and water enthusiast who lives in Jupiter, loved what she saw.
She enrolled in an ISR training program and immediately began teaching the method to infants and children as young as six months.
"It's the best thing I did," Arpe said.
ISR, founded in 1966 by Dr. Harvey Barnett, is a comprehensive infant swimming instruction method that teaches water self-rescue skills to children and has educated parents and medical experts nationwide on water safety techniques.
Arpe, who sells real estate in addition to teaching ISR, works with about 25 kids each week at the Florida Atlantic University Pool in Jupiter.
"I have a big psych background, and it's all psychology and behavioral Tiffany Rings science," she said of ISR. "It's not playing with children in the water. Everything we do is scientifically based. I love it. You want to argue with it, but there's no objection about this I cannot overcome."
Arpe enjoys her work and looks forward to many years of teaching ISR.
"I love it," she said. "I would never retire from this. If I won the $4 million lottery, I still would teach."
Her former students often remind her of the impact she has made on their lives.
"I have hundreds of letters of testimonials of kids that have fallen in (the pool) and used the skills," she said. "I cannot go anywhere in Palm Beach or Martin County without hearing, 'Hi Joan. You taught me.'"
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Fake Bell & Ross WatchesWhat are your hobbies?
Surfing, yoga and art collecting.
What has been your biggest challenge?
"Finding a pool where this program is welcome for the whole community."
Who is your hero or someone who has inspired you?
Infant Swimming Resource founder Dr. Harvey Barnett. "He's the most brilliant man I've ever met."
What is your favorite childhood memory?
"Learning to swim at the Flanders Pool in Ocean City, New Jersey."
What do you do to get away from it all?
"I've been going to Costa Rica for 30 years. I love Costa Rica."
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three things with you, what would they be?
"Music, raspberries and my surfboard."Q&A
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