Letters of Support

City of Chandler — Regular Meeting (2021-05-27)

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Letters of Support

April 23, 2021 
 
Planning & Zoning Commission,City of Chandler,Lauren Schumann 
Regarding Infant Swimming Resource at 2720 E Coconino Dr 
 
Ms Schumann, 
I am a resident at 2710 E. Coconino Dr. and live directly next to the Pollards who reside at 2720 E. 
Coconino Dr. Our backyards share a wall next to both of our pools. My wife Julie and I have lived in this 
house with our kids for almost 10 years. The Pollards lived here prior to our moving in. 
We learned about the Infant Swinmming class that Therace runs next door shortly after moving in. 
Therace explained the nature of the classes and how she is teaching life saving skills to young kids. In 
Arizona unfortunately numerous small children every year die in drowning accidents. Being a Father of 
two teenagers at the time, I understood immediately the value of these classes. 
I am an executive with an Intelligent Transportation company. Prior to the pandemic I traveled 
extensively. When I was not traveling, I worked from home as I do now. I have no office in Arizona. My 
home office provides me with a view of the street and positions me likely less than 50’ from the pool 
where the classes are held. 
I have had absolutely no complaints regarding anything with this class and for the most part goes greatly 
unnoticed by me. As I am sure you do, I have a considerable number of online meetings and several 
conference calls when I am working at home. I have never had occasion when any of these classes have 
interfered with me personally or professionally. 
The Pollards have always been respectful of us as neighbors. Therace has proactively inquired frequently 
over the years as to if there are any issues. She is very conscientious of her neighbors and ensures that 
anything she is doing is not causing problems.  
My wife Julie and I are very supportive of Therace being able to continue to offer these classes. She 
provides an invaluable service to our community and our youth. We hope that she is granted a permit to 
continue these classes. 
 
Best Regards, 
 
Dan Nall 
2710 E Coconino Dr, Chandler 
602-828-3349   danieljnall@gmail.com

April 20, 2021
Kayla Lowery
3321 East Azalea Drive
Chandler, AZ 85286
To Whom It May Concern, 
As Arizona natives and my husband working in the Fire Department for 18 years, we 
know it is absolutely crucial for children to learn not only how to swim, but how to 
learn survival skills in the water. Our two children were taught by Therace for years, 
starting at the age of one. We knew that pool safety gates cannot just protect 
children from every dangerous water situation.  Within the first week of lessons, we 
discovered not just how incredible her expertise is with teaching children life saving 
skills, but how well she ran her business. Therace is reliable, honest, patient, kind, 
organized and has the heart of gold towards every single family that walks into her 
backyard. 
After our experience with Therace Pollard, I can truly say without a doubt, she is 
absolutely essential to our community. She is making it a better and safer place for 
all families. As we all can agree as parents, we want our children to safely enjoy the 
water, and we cannot do that without Therace Pollard.
Sincerely yours,
Kayla Lowery 
KAYLA LOWERY
FROM THE DESK OF
KAYLA20ROSE@YAHOO.COM - 480.710.7795
KAYLA LOWERY

Meagan VonSchoff
2136 E. Pickett Ct
Gilbert, AZ 85298
C-480-292-6113
mlassen4@gmail.com
April 22, 2021
Lauren Schumann
Senior City Planner
City of Chandler
To whom it may concern,
The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate my support of  Therace Pollard and her passion to keep our 
community safe.  Her love and commitment for teaching children survival skills in and around the water is 
unmatched and absolutely essential to this community.  She is a certified master instructor with a skill set 
that reaches all different types of children and learning styles.  Her dedication and love for developing  
safe, happy and confident swimmers is something every community needs. 
As the days heat up and summer approaches more and more people will be using their backyard pools 
and unfortunately we know we will begin to hear the awful and absolutely devastating stories in the news 
about child drownings.  Therace makes a difference and her work decreases this alarming statistic by 
empowering children with skills that can and will save their life in and around water.  I have never met a 
more dedicated person to this cause than Therace Pollard.  We love her, our children need her, and we all 
ask that you please allow her to continue providing this invaluable service to our community.
Sincerely,
Meagan VonSchoff

Sarah and Stephen Cupples 
3402 E. Orleans Ct. 
Gilbert, AZ 85298 
 
4/26/2021 
 
 
Lauren Schumann 
Senior City Planner 
City of Chandler, AZ 
 
 
RE: Therace Pollard, ISR Certified Master Instructor 
 
 
To Whom It May Concern: 
 
Our family had the pleasure of meeting Therace in 2015. She had come highly recommended by 
a friend who had raved that ISR lessons with Therace were the very best way to ensure kids 
were safe in and around water. Upon meeting Therace, we were immediately impressed by her 
sincerity and calm demeanor. We watched her interact with our child in the pool who was 
initially apprehensive, but within only a few lessons, we watched our child’s confidence begin 
to grow. Therace started with simple exercises and gradually progressed into having our 
daughter swim longer distances, and before we all knew it, she could swim, roll to her back and 
float, then flip back into swimming again. Over the weeks, our daughter’s abilities progressed to 
the point the point where we had a strong, safe two-year old swimmer. When she completed 
her final lesson with Therace and received an adorable little medal for her accomplishment, our 
daughter just beamed with pride and confidence. We were so proud! It felt extraordinary to 
watch her skills grow and to know that our daughter learned from the very best! 
From that point on, we brought our daughter back for annual refresher lessons to maintain and 
build upon her skills. We later brought our younger daughter who also learned to be a safe 
swimmer from Therace. The awe we experienced watching her gradually learn the sequence 
from swimming, floating, swimming was no less incredible than when we experienced it with 
our older daughter. To see an apprehensive, cautious, and uneasy child grow confident in water 
is an amazing thing! Each step of the process, Therace was a friendly, encouraging, 
compassionate coach to our girls, praising their efforts as they progressed in their abilities. 
When our older daughter was 4 years old, we had begun swimming in our personal pool prior 
to ISR lessons beginning, so it had been 8-9 months since she had been in a pool. Our daughter 
was playing on the steps when she accidentally stepped off the pool step into much deeper 
water. From only a few feet away, I watched the look of panic come over her and then I 
watched her do something amazing. She rolled onto her back and into her float and she took 
some deep relaxing breaths. By this time, I grabbed ahold of her and picked her up to give her a

hug. She said, “Mom, you saved my life!”. I said, “No sweetie, Miss Therace taught you how to 
save your own life if you ever needed to, and you just showed me that you remembered exactly 
what you were taught to do! I am so proud of you!” I had never intended to test out her 
instincts if she ever fell in water, but this was a profoundly valuable moment that showed us 
she had retained everything she was taught by Therace, and should she ever find herself in a 
similar situation, she would know exactly what to do in order to keep herself safe. I believe that 
this is one of the most incredible and valuable skills we can instill in our children. 
Water safety is something we take very seriously. We take all precautions with our children 
including a pool fence, door locks, and we only allow our children to swim when there is 
appropriate supervision. We believe that ultimately, ISR is the last line of protection and most 
effective strategy for safety in water for our children. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had 
Therace teach our children. Her instruction instilled valuable swimming abilities and she also 
serves as a wonderful positive influence on us all. Our family will forever be grateful for the ISR 
program, but we are most grateful that Therace Pollard was the one to teach our girls. She is 
truly an asset to our community! 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Sarah and Stephen Cupples

For anyone interested in saving a child’s life,
I met Therace Pollard in 2009 when my oldest daughter was 2 and my 2nd daughter was just a
couple months old.  I came to her extremely traumatized after my 2 year old walked off our baja
step into deeper water as I was tending to my baby on the side of the pool.  When I turned back
around my 2 year old was under water; she made NO noise, there was NO splashing, there was
nothing but silence.  Mind you I was in the water with her and turned my head for less than 10
seconds.  I had already been referred to ISR through our daycare provider but had yet to call.  I
immediately called Therace, explained what happened and we started lessons the following
week, that was the BEST call I have ever made as a parent of 3 kids. All 3 of my children have
completed the ISR program with Thearce and have done multiple follow up lessons, I am 100%
sure that this training has saved their lives.  They are all strong swimmers now at the ages of
14, 12 & 8.
The one on one lessons that are provided are imperative to their learning and mastering the
survival skills being taught.  The kids have the undivided attention of the instructor everyday to
truly hone in on each skill.  They start with small steps and continue to build on to each skill until
they know how to swim to the side of the pool, flip over in the water to float on their back, swim
and flip over until they can get to safety.  It is amazing to see the progress the kids make in just
a short period of time.  I know many families that have taken their children to group swim
lessons for months or years and their children still cannot swim on their own.  ISR and Therace
provide survival skills in and around the water, which is a necessity living in Arizona.
Therace is one of the most kind, patient, knowledgeable and understanding people I know.
Here level of expertise in teaching my children water safety and survival swimming while
keeping a calm and tender demeanor is unprecedented. She is professional in regards to her
training and extremely respectful of her neighbors in regards to directing us where to park and
being mindful of neighbors property and privacy. Therace and her husband, a firefighter, are true
community heroes and as a member of this community I STRONGLY support her in continuing
these life saving lessons.  As drownings of young children continue to climb, I believe we all
need to do our part in supporting the work that these amazing ISR instructors are doing, they
are providing our children with true life saving skills.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I encourage you to reach out if you need any
other information.
Kind Regards,
Mike & Shauna Murphy
Shauna - 480-620-4971 | shauna@alphaomegafg.com

April 27, 2021 
 
To Whom It May Concern, 
This serves as a letter of support for Therace Pollard (Infant Swim Resource Instructor).  The impact Therace 
and the program she runs is invaluable to families and to the community as a whole.  She has taught countless 
children how to stay safe around the water which in turn saves lives.  The way she cares about each individual 
family is unmatched.  She made us feel so important and she meets every child where they are.  My children 
took ISR lessons from Therace for a few years.  I have a son who is Autistic and he absolutely loved “Miss 
Therace”.  He took lessons and refreshers from her until his legs were long enough to touch the bottom of the 
pool.  His progress and retention of skills took a little longer than neurotypical kids, but Therace welcomed him 
with open arms nonetheless.  She is so encouraging and puts all of her heart and soul into her work.  Not only 
is she saving lives, she is making lifetime friendships and forming bonds with the kids and families she teaches.  
She is helping children and families gain confidence and knowledge regarding water safety.  She is amazing 
and I fully support the continuation of ISR under her expertise.   
 
Sincerely  
Briana Clark 
480-518-5992 
(Mama of Braden & Sydney)

4/28/2021
To Whom it May Concern,
I am writing this letter in support of Therace Pollard, our daughter’s ISR instructor. Our 3 year
old daughter, Adrie, began lessons with Therace just 5 short weeks ago. Adrie has always been
curious around water, willing to attempt swimming without reservation, but with no real ability.
When our family recently got a pool in the backyard, I knew I had to do something to help keep
my curious child safe.
I was referred to Therace by our cousin, who has 2 boys who have been successfully instructed
by her. As a first time parent, not knowing what to expect, I appreciated how professionally run
the lessons were. Thereace was very clear about the rules of her neighborhood, including
parking, time of arrival, vehicle speed, direction of traffic, and consideration for her neighbors.
I knew right away that Adrie would be comfortable with Therace, who provides a caring,
welcoming, fear-free teaching environment. Her passion for teaching was evident right away.
Adrie has just flourished under her instruction, and is set to complete this season’s lessons in a
few days. She has gone from a child with no swimming skill, to a child who I’m confident would
be able to use her life-saving skills if ever in that situation.
May is National Water Safety Month. Every year, the fire department near our home displays a
sign reminding citizens that drowning takes only seconds, and to watch children around water.
In past years, this reminder would cause me to have an anxious pit in my stomach. But not this
year. I am confident that Therace have given Adrie the skills she needs to be safe in and around
water. What an invaluable gift.
Therace provides an  invaluable service to the children of our community, and to take that
opportunity away would be a tragic disservice.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Tia Cross

April 22, 2021 
To: Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission and Chandler City Council C/O Lauren 
Schumann 
From: Lori Still, resident of Fonte Al Solé and in support of Infant Swimming Resource 
RE: PLH21-0006 Infant Swimming Resource  
 
I am a neighbor of the Pollard Family and had my 3rd child attend ISR lessons at their home.   
Quick story: my husband and I were doing yard work in the backyard and our 1st child, 3 year 
old son, was playing on the large top step of our pool.  My husband and I were discussing what 
to put where with regard to storage and my son was within 5 feet of our discussion.  My son is 
normally one to make lots of noise no matter where he is, but as my husband and I were 
talking, we both turned around because it was quiet.  My son had his head half under water, his 
feet were tip toe touching the shallow end of the pool and his arms were flailing slowly.  I will 
never forget the look of panic in his big, wide open blue eyes as I jumped in to pick him up and 
hug him.  He was drowning before our very eyes and we had no idea.  Luckily, no harm came to 
him and we heightened our awareness of the reality of drowning.  We had never owned a pool 
before and were new to Arizona. 
By the time our 3rd child came along, Therace had started her ISR class down the street.  Since 
we were “out-numbered” (3 kids to 2 parents) and I knew how easily drowning can happen, we 
signed up for classes.  My daughter was 7 months old when she started, and she graduated 
from that course on time with excellent results.  We even had it put to the test when I was in 
our pool with her. She was in the water on the edge of the top step and fell into the pool (it was 
not a jump; it was more accidental).  I was there with her and did not panic. I did not even rush 
to go get her because before I could take a step toward her, she had flipped onto her back!  She 
started her life saving float exactly how she had learned it from Therace! She kept it going until 
I calmly scooped her up so we could continue playing.  There was no panic from my daughter, 
she was not at all traumatized by any of it.  In fact, she would even enjoy “doing her flippy 
swim” on cue when other family members were in the pool.     
I cannot emphasize enough, how amazed I was, how thankful I was to have my daughter know 
how to survive in water.  What Therace does empowers kids (INFANTS!) and provides peace of 
mind for families.  Her caring professionalism has always been evident. She runs her business 
with high standards and expectations, with clear communication along the way.   
I am in full support of what she is doing. She is literally a life saver. 
 
Lori Still

Dear Lauren, 
 
All 3 of our children have been in swim with Ms. Therace over the past four years. When 
we first moved to AZ from CA everyone insisted we do ISR. We had never heard of it 
and had no clue what it was like. We started out with a different instructor who was by 
no means a Ms. Therace. Our Neighbor than gave us Ms. Therace number and we 
switched. It was a night and day difference. Her sweet, calm and patient demeanor has 
blessed our family with safety and knowledge with children and swimming. We have 
recommended her to many other families and she is truly a blessing and has been 
gifted with a special talent to teach children to swim within 6 weeks! My youngest 
started when she was 18 months. That’s incredible.  
 
Whoever this unhappy individual is should mind their business or sell there home if they 
can respect the lives of others.  
 
Call or email with any questions.  
Vanessa Thomas 
408-355-4128 
 
______________________________________________________________________ 
 
To whom it may concern,  
 
Therace Pollard and the ISR program is invaluable here in Arizona. When my 
son was 3yrs old, I first learned about ISR and Therace through another family. 
My son learned more about water safety and survival in a short 5 weeks with 
Therace vs over a year at a brick and motar group swim classes. When my 
daughter was born, we enrolled her also with Therace.  My kids are now 6 & 9 
years old and are very strong swimmers. The foundation Therace taught my 
children is invaluable. They still use their swim/float sequence when in the pool.  
The private, one on one, repetitive classes ISR provides is the key to their 
success. Please provide Therace with the needed permit to continue to do her 
life saving work.  
 
Thank you 
Aleshia Smith  
aleshia.k.smith@gmail.com

I can’t say enough in support of Therace Pollard and the importance of her work for our 
community. Therace’s passion for teaching infants and toddlers life-saving skills is evident in the 
way she conducts her business. My sons were 3 before I heard of Infant Swim Resource and I 
was adamantly against having a pool in our backyard knowing the tragedies that occur all-too-
regularly in Chandler. I cannot express the profound relief I experienced after my sons trained 
with Therace and learned how to save themselves should they ever fall into a pool or encounter 
danger in the water. I only wish I had known about Therace & ISR sooner – it would have saved 
me years of anxiety! I have so much respect and gratitude for Therace’s stern and 
compassionate manner of teaching. It is evident that this is her life’s work and our community 
is so fortunate to have her. 
 
Amber  
amber.l.golden@intel.com 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
To Whom It May Concern,  
 
Therace Pollard is saving lives. My two boys could confidently swim at an extremely 
early age because of her. She runs her business efficiently and professionally, and she 
is extremely respectful of her close-by neighbors. It's hard to put into words just how 
valuable she is to her neighborhood and community, and when I first moved into Fonte 
A Sole, I was thrilled that she ran her business so near me! I cannot say enough 
positive things about Therace. I know for a fact she has saved my children's lives, as 
well as countless others. 
Sincerely, 
 
Martha Zimpfer 
ranier21@gmail.com 
______________________________________________________________________ 
To whom it may concern, 
 
My daughter Tayler spent three summers taking ISR lessons through Therace Pollard at her home. 
As a parent, when you live with a pool in your backyard, you are always scared of the danger it 
presents to your children. After just one summer of lessons at three years old, my daughter was a 
confident happy swimmer who knew how to be safe around water. I contribute that confidence to 
the level of skills she learned from Therace. She is patient, loving and only wants to help children 
learn how to save themselves should they fall into a pool. I live one block over from Therace and 
have never found her teaching ISR from her home to be in community nuisance. I think most 
neighbors support the lifesaving lessons she provides to little ones.  
 
Sincerely, 
Meredith Hahn 
azmichgirl@cox.net

Good afternoon Lauren, 
 
I am writing about my kids' ISR instructor, Therace Pollard. She is a wonderful teacher and is doing a 
great thing for the community. Please know that I support her and what she is doing. Both of my children 
went through her ISR course and are safe around the water because of the skills she taught them. We 
have a pool in our backyard and those water skills are essential. We appreciate Therace and recognize 
that without her, my kids had the potential to be another statistic. 
 
Thank you, 
Lindsay Lange 
 
"Lindsay Lange" <lindsay.lange12@yahoo.com> 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
To Lauren Schumann, Senior City Planner and to any others it may concern: 
 
Hi, my name is Rachel Rogers. I am an Arizona resident, mother to three children and 
registered nurse. I first learned about ISR (Infant Swimming Resource) from numerous 
coworkers who took their children to Therace Pollard, ISR Certified Master Instructor. They 
raved about the program, showed me videos of their children swimming and floating safely in 
the water, and had the highest regards for Therace.  
 
At this time, my oldest had just turned one and was walking. Living in Arizona and knowing our 
summers would be spent around pools, I knew ISR was for us. I even had an incident where my 
daughter had gotten outside and my parents' pool gate was wide open. I shudder to think what 
would've happened had I not gone looking for her as soon as I noticed she was out of my sight. 
I contacted Therace and she was so accommodating and helpful, answering many of my 
questions since this was our first experience with ISR and swim lessons in general. She was so 
great with my daughter (and me) and made it so my child had the skills she needed to be safe 
around and in the water. She also took the time to teach me how to help my child practice and 
keep her skills up to par. I am such an advocate for ISR. I am so impressed by what Therace 
has done for my family.  
 
Fast forward almost 6 years later and now all 3 of my kids have gone through ISR. Therace 
loves the kids she teaches. She tailors her skills to what they need. All of my children have had 
obstacles to get through to become completely safe in the water and Therace is so patient with 
them and skilled. She works with them, meets them where they are at, and through her training, 
gets my child safe! It is amazing! This community needs this program. As a parent, my 
children's safety is the most important thing to me. I can't imagine not being able to have the 
peace of mind that ISR gives. I trust Therace with my babies and she is so good with them. She 
is so kind, hard working and passionate about her profession. I hope she can continue to save 
children and do what is so desperately needed, especially in this community. Thank you for your 
time.  
 
Sincerely,  
 
Rachel Rogers 
rasemrad@gmail.com

Whom It May Concern,  
 
My name is Briana Villaseñor and I am writing to show my support for ISR Master Instructor, 
Therace Pollard. As you can imagine in the climate in which we live, her work is extremely 
important. I do not exaggerate when I say her profession saves children's lives. My two children 
took ISR lessons with Therace. My oldest was swimming at age 2 while my youngest was 
floating at age 1 and fully swimming by age 2.  
 
Her work is invaluable and she must be able to continue without harassment. She is preventing 
babies, toddlers and children from drowning.  
 
Best regards,  
Briana Villaseñor 
brianatroisi@aol.com 
 
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To Whom it May Concern:  
I was asked if I would submit a letter of support for Therace Pollard, ISR Instructor. I 
emphatically agreed to do so.  
The work that Therace Pollard does at her home to teach children water rescue skills is 
invaluable. My daughter Heather took ISR approximately 10 years ago and I am grateful 
everyday that we had the opportunity to learn from Therace.  
I am convinced that she has personally saved many little lives from drowning incidents. As you 
know in the valley and surrounding areas we hear all too often of the children found in backyard 
pools or bodies of water.  
While providing lifesaving techniques to both children and parents, she also has strict guidelines 
regarding people coming to her residence. She is very aware of her community and very 
respectful of her neighbors and the impact this may have on her neighbors. She is very specific 
in providing details for parking, noise, and makes a point to mention that we are entering her 
residential neighborhood and “please respect “ the neighborhood.  
It would be a great loss to the community if Therace could not continue her practice of saving 
lives at her home.  
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns or questions. 480-335-1957.  
Sincerely, 
Julie A Santarone

To Whom It May Concern: 
 
Our family has known Therace Pollard for three years. She was incredible with our son 
who is now four and an impeccable swimmer. Our daughter, 17 months, is in the 
process of lessons this season and already floating. The life saving skills Therace is 
able to achieve with children so young is nothing short of miraculous. There is no doubt 
in my mind she’s prevented drowning deaths.  
 
If you have any further questions or need anyone to give testimony in person please do 
not hesitate to contact me. 
 
Amber Spangenberg 
602-628-2438 
a.spangenberg11@gmail.com 
 
 
To Who it may concern: 
 
As a retired 911 operator and police dispatcher I know what a priceless gift Therace Pollard is 
offering to families.  I have etched in memory the screams of 911 callers who have found a child 
in a pool.  In my opinion kids cannot learn the self rescue skills she is teaching in a group or 
public setting.  The 1 on 1 attention in the quiet of her backyard pool is a key factor.  My own 
granddaughters are enrolled in her program.  Therace is a passionate professional in what she is 
doing.  She is respectful of her neighbors and communicates very clearly to her clients when and 
where to park & enter her property.  I am asking that you grant her a Use Permit to continue this 
community service. 
 
Thank you, 
Krista Mickelson 
kmickelson@cox.net

To Whom It May Concern:  
 
My name is Amy Pfeifer and I am the mother of three wonderful daughters, Callie (15), Hannah 
(13) and Grace (2).  
 
Therace Pollard has not only taught Callie and Hannah to swim, she is currently teaching Grace 
to swim. I can not express enough how important it is for my children to learn to swim.  
 
Not only am I am mother, but I am also a first responder. One of the calls for service that I can 
remember to this day is the drowning of a precious little girl that at the time was around the same 
age as Grace.  
 
The child was being watched by her loving grandmother. While the child was eating breakfast 
her grandmother used the restroom. During that time the child crawled through the doggie door 
and into the pool. To this day I remember standing in the hospital room watching this beautiful 
angel knowing it was a matter of time before her family would be saying good bye.  
 
My husband and I recently had a pool built and I emailed Therace to see if she would be able to 
teach Grace swim lessons. I should add that Grace was born with Trisomy 21, more commonly 
known as Down Syndrome. Therace was so accepting and welcoming of teaching a child with 
different abilities.  
 
I was happy to see that ISR had a medical history evaluation during registration so that Therace 
and the ISR nurse could learn more about Grace’s diagnosis, skills and abilities prior to starting 
lessons.  
 
Once Grace was approved for lessons I was provided a handout discussing ISR and children with 
DS. I loved that the document explained possible challenges or common attributes associated 
with children that have DS such as low muscle tone, but the document was also very positive 
about the success of children with all abilities.  
 
Over the last few weeks I have watched Grace progress and gain confidence in her skills. I have 
watched as Therace has demonstrated skill, patience, love and support to Grace and to our 
family. I can not express how thankful we are for Therace Pollard and ISR!  
 
Attached are a few photos of Therace teaching Callie, Hannah and Grace to swim! The last is a 
photo of Grace after her first lesson with Therace.  
 
Thank you,  
 
Amy Pfeifer  
amyr67@hotmail.com

To whom this may concern, 
 
    My name is Nicole Derrico, I am a mom of four young boys. From the time my oldest son 
could sit up at six months old he was in Therace Pollard's pool learning how to survive in 
the water. Days in her pool turned into weeks which turned into every year returning to 
practice survival techniques of being in the water.  Therace Pollard is so brilliantly skilled at 
teaching children of all ages the best way to swim and float while remaining completely safe 
in the water. This is no easy task for Therace Pollard. She has dedicated more hours in the 
pool each week teaching children to swim then the average work week. After putting all four 
of my boys through her ISR program, my husband and I are completely confident our boys 
know and understand the value of the safety around water. If every child had the 
opportunity to be gifted the chance to learn these skills, especially in Arizona and Florida, 
the two states with the highest number of pools per home, maybe one day we would be at a 
point of zero drownings. 
 
I support Therace Pollard and the ISR mission to save lives in the water.  
 
Thank you and many blessings, 
Nicole and Mark Derrico 
nderrico@yahoo.com 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
 
 
To whom it may concern, 
 
I am writing to share what a positive impact Therace Pollard has made on our lives. Our 2 
year old is safe around water thanks to Therace teaching her ISR skills. What Therace 
teaches little ones in her backyard is invaluable and we are forever grateful for these 
lessons. 
 
Rachel Mickelson 
rachelwilt24@gmail.com

To whom it may concern, 
 
I am writing this letter in regards to ISR and the certified instructor, Mrs Therace Pollard.  I 
am a mom of 4 kids, and Mrs Pollard has been their ISR instructor since 2009.  The 
experience since day one has been nothing but perfect.  From her friendly personality, her 
love for the kids and families, the process to sign up, the rules she has in place to keep the 
kids and families safe before/during/after lessons, are all done within the rules of the 
program and respect of her house and neighborhood.  She provides clear expectations of 
where to park, to drive slowly the neighborhood, how many people can go, to keep the 
traffic down.  The program is absolutely amazing to teach children how to survive in water, 
but wouldn’t be successful without teachers like Mrs Pollard.  Her love and dedication to 
my kids has taught them life lessons on how to survive in water.  I can’t thank her enough. 
 
Sincerely, 
Kim E 
chris.kim3@cox.net 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
To whom it may concern: 
 
My son is currently enrolled in ISR (infant swim resource) with Therace Pollard. We are almost half 
way through the course, and I can already tell you this is life changing. As drowning is the number 
one cause of death from children ages 1-4, ISR is an invaluable skill. This skill is life saving, and with 
this skill, childhood drowning is preventable. I believe that it is  of the utmost importance that 
children are given this opportunity. The opportunity of learning what Therace teaches, could save 
their life one day.  This course is giving my son 1 on 1 time, so that he can truly learn at his own 
pace. We really could not ask for a better experience. I am currently expecting baby number 2, and 
would be devastated if I was unable to provide this life saving skill to my future daughter.  
 
Thank you for your time. 
 
Sincerely, 
Donna Tinto  
donnaromeo7@gmail.com

To whom it may concern, 
 
I am writing on behalf of my daughters who are not old enough to read and write. As well as my 
own experiences with Therace Pollard. Mrs. Therace has taught them life saving skills for two years 
in a row. My children adore her and look at her more than a swim instructor. They look at her as a 
friend and they trust her.  
 
Every morning from Monday to Friday we get ready and go to Mrs. Therace’s to learn invaluable 
skills. My daughters have literally cried on the weekends because they couldn’t go see Mrs. 
Therace.  
 
A little background on my family, we are from Florida. We lived in a state surrounded by water and 
every family member owns waterfront property. For fun and as a daily activity our families were 
always on boats and swimming. My daughters constantly had on floaties and that’s if I allowed 
them near the water. Often times my daughters would be on the sidelines watching everyone have 
fun because I could not always give my full attention to both of them in the water. I felt 
uncomfortable and stressed out anytime water was involved with my two children.  
 
We moved to Arizona thinking we traded water for sand just to find out there is a swimming pool in 
every yard it seems. Our family here has a large pool and hot tub that our daughters became 
obsessed with. Again, our daughters could not play outside unless they had on floaties or a life 
jacket. I constantly feared they would fall in while playing near the pool or one of our dogs would 
run by and accidentally push one in. I was fearful that it might traumatize them from being near 
water.  
 
I began to research swimming lessons in our area. I didn’t want a public place because my children 
are young and I wanted something private and more personal. I found Mrs. Therace Pollard and 
researched her thoroughly. I looked at her website and social media account as well as any reviews. 
When I decided she was the right instructor to teach my daughters I reached out right away. I was 
reluctant to find out she taught in the comfort of her home. I love this concept because it made my 
children feel comfortable and at ease. It was also a realistic scenario because most drownings 
happen in a backyard swimming pool.  
 
My daughters learned so much more than just to save their own life, they learned respect for water. 
My daughters also learned how to listen, they gained confidence, they learned to focus and in the 
process they made a life long friend. The joy in their face when they run in her backyard for lessons 
is such a heartfelt moment for a parent. They are always so happy and cheerful. My daughters cheer 
each other on and even clap for themselves because they are so proud of their hard work. There is 
no telling how many lives Mrs. Therace has already saved by giving children these skills. I am 
grateful and fortunate that my children were among those children, because I personally know 
families that have lost their loved ones in drowning incidents.  
 
My children go to school bragging about their new skills and it has brought attention to other 
parents who have the same fear as I had. I now have families coming and asking me who my 
daughters swim teacher is because my children talk about her so often and so highly. 
 
I couldn’t imagine a better and more suited person to teach children these life saving skills. She is 
truly passionate and loves each and every child she comes in contact with. She radiates positive

energy and makes our children feel so safe, loved, and accomplished. We can’t speak highly enough 
of her and her contributions to the community. We love Mrs. Therace and we will always be grateful 
that she potentially saved our children from being another drowning statistic.  
 
Sincerely, 
 
The Kish Family 
kayleykish@yahoo.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Dear Lauren Schumann or To whom it May Concern, 
  
As a father of three, and a grandfather of three, the biggest fear I have is getting a 
phone call saying tragedy has stricken my family. This biggest fear is hearing the words 
one of your children or grand children fell into the pool and couldn’t get out. This is a 
nightmare I would hope no one ever encounters. My daughter and mother of three has 
taken my grandchildren to Infant Swimming Resources with Therace Pollard as their 
instructor for several years. The confidence and self awareness my grandchildren now 
have being in this program in not measurable by any metric. They have the ability and 
confidence to navigate the pool calmly and safely which before they started to attend 
Ms. Pollards program did not exist. I would hope the City would look at this as a priority 
to enable this program to continue. Even if Ms. Pollards program saves one innocent 
life, isn’t it worth it.     
  
Tony Ficara 
480 250 5851

April 20, 2021 
 
To whom it may concern: 
 
I am writing this letter in support of Therace Pollard, Infant Swim Resource Instructor and her 
desire to obtain a permit to conduct business at her single family  
 
We have lived around the corner from Therace and her family since 2004.  Our daughters were 
friends in elementary school and I was provided the opportunity to meet her and get to know 
her during this time.  Therace is a warm, inviting, genuine and kind person.  Her desire to 
provide these lessons is not one I imagine is viewed as a “job” to her.  This is a passion to help 
children and try to prevent drownings.  She is an amazing mother and opens her home to help 
all the children that she can to learn to be safe in water.  Arizona has staggering (and most 
times preventable) numbers of child drownings with our heat and children’s curiosity of 
water.  I experienced this with my own child who was receiving lessons but even with a fenced 
pool she still was curious and ambitious.  Having a piece of mind that they will be safe IF they 
end up near a body of water is priceless.  The traffic in the area may be a few more cars than 
normal but it is for a very good reason.  I do not feel any increase in traffic is detrimental or a 
nuisance.  IF Therace were to hear about someone not being safe driving in the neighborhood 
she would be the first to politely ask them to be more cautious.      
 
I am fully in support of her obtaining a license to continue this wonderful work she does and 
the safety she is providing to these children. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Sarah Cronk 
4287 S Kimberlee Drive 
Chandler, AZ 85249

ISR Letter of Support – Therace Pollard 
 
Therace Pollard is a beloved ISR instructor in the Chandler area, but her work reaches far beyond the 
East Valley. You see, Therace is responsible for saving hundreds, no thousands, of children from 
drowning. She not only teaches, but promotes and encourages water safety from the mere age of six 
months old. I know this first-hand because our daughter is now entering her third year of swim with 
Therace.  
 
We first found Therace by searching our zip code on the ISR site and she was the closest to us, so it was 
a win. Once we met her and encountered her amazing spirit, kind heart, and passion towards swim and 
saving lives, we knew she was truly a blessing to not only us but countless other families. Our first swim 
season seemed like we would speed through and maybe even graduate early. Our daughter had other 
plans and had breath control like no other. She would float face down, so Therace added extra weeks 
onto our schedule to ensure our girl was safe, confident, and equipped in the water. Her patience is 
truly that of angels. She worked tirelessly with daughter until she was rolling and floating on her back 
with no panic. She went above and beyond and we were overjoyed to know we had someone so 
invested in our daughter and her well-being. 
 
What we love about ISR and Therace is that it is not just swimming that’s on the schedule each day. 
Children learn breath control, how to float, swim/kick, roll to their back, rest. The resting float truly 
saves lives and encourages children to be in control in the water and brings panic to a minimum. We are 
so fortunate to have Therace, a Master Instructor, in our area who is devoted to sweet kiddos and their 
families. To know Therace is to love her and we are so taken by talents and character, I’ve 
recommended her and ISR to countless friends and family.  
 
She is a tremendous asset to not only our community, but to the world as she brings awareness to infant 
swim, drownings, and how they are truly avoidable. She is a Godsend, and we could not be more 
thankful for her and her willingness to open her pool to so many of us each spring/summer. Because of 
her, children LIVE.  
 
Thank you, 
Kinsey Van Haveren 
432.260.1511

Dr. Amanda Wruble 
155O West Thompson Way 
Chandler, AZ  85286 
 
April 20, 2021 
 
Re: Letter of Support for Therace Pollard 
 
 
To whom it may concern: 
 
Therace has taught ISR (Infant Swim Resource) survival swimming to my five year old son for 
the last five years and my two year old son for one year.  From the moment I handed her my 
seven month old baby, she gracefully and lovingly built trust with him and taught him the 
swimming skills he would need should he ever to have fallen into a pool unexpectedly.  It is 
quite extraordinary to watch her work with my children, and the solace it brings me to know 
that my sons have had this important swim education is impossible to describe in words.  She is 
extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of pool safety and child development and provides 
a rare resource to our community.  She has invested countless hours in advanced education to 
stay current on the most recent information on child pool safety and education.  Her dedication 
and passion for helping us keep our children safe has been a huge gift to our family.   
 
Therace is also very professional about the lessons and the administration of how the daily 
swim lessons are conducted.  She provides clear, constant, up-to-date communications with 
parents as to the timing and logistics of the lessons must run in order to be harmonious with 
her community.  As a parent I appreciate this concise and thorough information so that we can 
be as efficient as possible about our laborious, daily time commitment.   
 
Our family of four is very thankful that Therace is a part of our Chandler community.  Thank you 
for taking the time to read my thoughts about Therace.  We are very much looking forward to 
another year of swim lessons with her! 
 
Regards, 
Amanda Wruble

To whom it may concern, 
I would like to tell you about the impact Therace Pollard has had on our daughter as her ISR 
instructor.  When our daughter, Olivia, first started going to ISR with Therace, she was not 
confident around a pool and had a hard time getting acclimated in the water.  Therace has 
helped build Olivia’s confidence in the water and now she absolutely loves going in the pool 
and swimming.  When Olivia was only one year old, she started going to ISR with Therace and 
she certainly did not know how to float safely on her back, let alone swim.  Only one year later, 
at two years old, Olivia can comfortably float on her back for long periods of time and 
thoroughly enjoys being in the water.  In fact, Olivia has gained so much confidence and has 
become so comfortable in a pool, that she is now working on kicking and swimming with 
Therace.  There is no way that Olivia could have made the strides and gains that she has made 
without the help of Therace and she looks forward to seeing Therace every day throughout the 
season. As parents, to see the transformation from day one of ISR swimming with Therace until 
now is nothing short of incredible. It brings tears to our eyes to see how much our daughter has 
grown to love being in the water and it is all thanks to the expertise and loving nature of 
Therace. 
We were referred to Therace by several of our friends who have had children go through the 
ISR program. When we asked around, hers was the ONLY name in town that people trusted 
with the ISR training and after just one session, we could see why.  Water safety for our child is 
one of the most important things to us.  Knowing that our daughter would have the training 
and confidence to respond to falling in the water in an accident, brought us the peace of mind 
we were looking for and it is all thanks to Therace and her amazing training program. 
Another thing that makes Therace’s ISR training program so amazing is how efficiently and 
conveniently she runs her business.  From the moment we signed our daughter up for ISR it has 
been a seamless and easy process. Therace is extremely organized and runs a well-oiled 
machine.  She greets us every day with a smile and we genuinely enjoy our time with her every 
day. She is passionate about water safety and makes you feel like your kid is the only one she is 
working with when in fact, she is helping hundreds of other kids learn how to be safe in the 
water. 
If you have any questions or would like further information my husband and I are happy to help 
anyway we can. I fully support Therace and hope you all can see how much she is impacting our 
community one child at a time. 
Tasha Lewis 
Cell: 602-930-6896

To whom it may concern,  
 
ISR has been the best money we have ever spent. The care and love Therace shows 
her students is unwavering. She is a blessing to her profession, and our neighborhood.  
 
We started lessons with her when our oldest son was only a year old and have since 
watched our three kids learn and grow from her lessons over the last seven years. She 
is saving lives with every single child she teaches. Through her lessons our children 
have learned how to self rescue, which is a skill that means more to me than any other 
swim lesson around.  
 
Therace is wonderful, and I would be devastated if she was unable to teach any longer.  
 
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any other questions.  
 
Thank you,  
 
Shay Totolo  
480-363-6777 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
My daughter Quinn has been swimming with Therace for the past 3 years. She just 
turned 4 this week. It is very important to us that our children know how to swim since 
we have a pool in our backyard. It is especially important that Quinn knows how to swim 
because she was born with a heart defect. We are cautious with all of our children but at 
an extra level with her. She only has half of a heart. Quinn has had 3 open heart 
surgeries in her life. From this, she developed diagnosed medical PTSD along with 
Sensory Processing Disorder. Quinn does not trust a lot of people. She has triggers with 
new situations, sounds, light, and touch. Therace is the only person I trust with Quinn in 
the water. She has been patient and beyond kind. There has never been a day in the 
past 3 years where I felt like Quinn was unsafe in swim lessons. The extra steps she 
has taken for my special needs child is something you can’t get anywhere else. It is 
pretty remarkable that a child with half of a working heart, PTSD & sensory issues can 
turn herself to her back and float safely in the water. Therace is an exceptional 
instructor. She took a terrified little girl and turned her into a confident swimmer who 
LOVES swim class. This is more than just swim class for my daughter. She is learning 
life skills. She is learning to trust people again. She is learning that not everything in life 
is scary like the hospital. We hold a very special place in our hearts for ISR with 
Therace. We are actually veteran clients. My now 9 year old learned to swim with 
Therace as well. He is the best swimmer among all of his friends. I confidently say that 
is because of Therace. Her swim lessons are ran so much more organized than any big 
name swim school in the valley. We have tried just about all of them. Our lessons are 
always on time. She is very thorough in her teaching. Parking and entering for lessons 
is very quick and easy. It is hard for me to really express my love for Therace. She has 
given my family so much more than just swim lessons.  
 
Sandee Walker dancems.sandee@gmail.com

Dear Lauren, 
 
I am writing you this letter because I am in support of Therace Pollard receiving a use permit to 
continue teaching swim lessons from her home. I have two children that have completed the ISR 
program with Therace and I know first hand how much passion, care and professionalism she 
puts forth. Therace is providing our community with an invaluable service that is so important to 
continue. She is courteous to her neighbors by having her families park in her driveway and 
schedules so that there is minimal traffic. I would urge the city to support ISR as it directly 
benefits the community and saves lives.  
 
Thank you,  
Stephanie Mojahed 
smojahed@gmail.com 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Whom it Concerns 
 
RE:  Infant Swimming Resource at Therace Pollard’s Home 
 
It is with enthusiasm and confidence that I submit a letter of support for ISR as a program and 
Therace Pollard as an instructor of ISR.  Three years ago when we were looking for a survival 
swim lesson program for our 9 month old granddaughter Infant Swimming Resource surfaced 
as a universally respected and researched option for parents/grandparents.  Networking within 
the community of Chandler and inquiring of other parents/grandparents, Therace Pollard’s 
name surfaced the most as the ‘best instructor’.   We did not hesitate to register in 2018.  We 
have completed three years of instruction and are back this year for another refresher 
course.  This year we will be adding the second child in our family, aged 16 months for her 
initial infant swim instruction.   
 
With children drownings front and center in the news every year, a program that promotes 
survival is more essential than ever.  ISR has developed techniques and strategies that promote 
life saving training for the unexpected water encounter—falling in, tiring out in the water, or 
retrieving a toy that has fallen in the pool.  This program can develop strong swimmers but 
more important its initial purpose is to save the life of a child---the most invaluable gift you can 
give to any family.   
 
As the City of Chandler looks to approve the licensing of this program being taught in a 
neighborhood pool I personally can think of no reason to object to it.  Every consideration for 
child safety, traffic impact or organization has been well thought out and established to 
minimize the disruption to neighbors, and optimize child life saving training. 
 
I am a retired Chandler Unified School Principal of 18 years; I share this only to emphasize that I 
have experience in evaluating teachers and recognizing best practices when they are 
seen.  Therace Pollard is an instructor of impeccable standards.  She exhibits the highest morale 
character; she’s compassionate and considerate. Therace provides a service to families that 
could change their lives forever.  She is a consummate cheerleader for children’s success and 
fosters their self esteem and confidence in and around water.  The positivity that exudes from 
her pores speaks volumes about why she is recognized by the national organization as one of 
the best and is recruited to train other teachers in and out of state.  
 
If you wish to speak to a strong proponent, I am happily making myself available for further 
conversations. Don’t hesitate to contact me at, 480-720-3078. 
 
Sincerely 
 
Susie Jayne Pecoraro 
 
 
Susie Jayne, Retired CUSD Principal

April 26, 2021 
To Whom it may Concern, 
 
My name is Chiara Cicalese and I live 2 houses down from Therace Pollard.  I am writing this 
letter to show my support of her swim program at her house.  As an elementary teacher , 
mother, and a swimmer, I believe this program is important to the community.   I have never 
had an issue with this program being  on my block.  As a matter of fact, there have been times 
that I will be sitting in my backyard and will hear laughing and yes, sometimes screams, but I do 
know that it is important for children to learn how to swim at a young age. 
Please allow this program to continue. 
 
Thank you, 
Chiara Cicalese 
4th grade teacher, Kyrene School District 
480-570-8640 
 
 
Hello Therace, 
 
Just wanted you to know as a neighbor 2 doors down you have my full support in 
what you do. You do provide a great service that can save a life(s). It breaks my heart 
everytime I hear about a child who has drowned in a pool. 
 
It's great you have the passion to do this, so glad that the city of Chandler is also in 
support. 
 
Your services have never caused any issues in our neighborhood. I know it never will. 
 
I wish you continued success going forward.  
 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Ron Cicalese 
2700 E.Coconino Dr 
Chandler 85249 
480 577 8778

April 22, 2021       
 
               
To Whom This May Concern, 
 
 
It is my pleasure to offer a reference and support for Therace Pollard and her 
Infant Swim Resource program. My family started her swim program in 2017. My 
daughter, age 3 at the time, completed a Refresher program with Therace. My son, who 
was 9 months old at the time, started the Survival Swim Program as well in 2017. I am a 
Registered Nurse and my husband is an Emergency Room Physician, so, unfortunately, 
we know first hand the importance of water safety and teaching your children to swim as 
early as possible.  
 
 
Therace’s work in ensuring that children of all ages are equipped to survive 
should they fall into water, is one of the most impactful jobs in our community. She does 
her job extremely well. It is difficult for a parent to hand their infant over to an instructor 
for swim lessons. Therace’s patience and expertise offered me peace of mind and 
confidence that my child was safe with her in the water. She was committed to a 
successful outcome for my children, all while showing my children love and grace in 
their learning curves. The time and money that was spent on these lessons with her 
was one of the best investments we have ever made in our children.  
 
 
She offers the survival swim lessons in her backyard and the environment is 
setup perfectly to offer seamless transitions between students. Her system is clear and 
organized so as to not disrupt the neighborhood. She is extremely considerate of her 
neighbors and has reiterated to all of her students the protocol for entering and exiting 
her neighborhood for lessons. She has enough parking for the students in her driveway 
and in front of her house, so there is no inconvenience to any of her neighbors. Many of 
her neighbors are in fact participants in her program and appreciate having her vital 
service nearby.  
 
 
Therace is a master of her craft and is committed to ensuring that her students 
achieve safety around and in the water. Her work has saved countless lives and is 
absolutely vital to keeping the children in our community safe. She has my full support 
and highest recommendation. She needs this permit to continue offering her service to 
our community. I truly hope that the council understands the impact that she has made 
and will continue to make when she is granted the use permit. I can provide more 
information if needed and can be reached at 480-313-3757 or 
LaurenMorro@gmail.com. 
 
Sincerely, 
Lauren Morro RN, BSN

To whom it may concern: 
Seeing is believing!!  It was at our son’s 2nd birthday that we realized just how truly amazing the 
ISR lessons had been.  Amongst a large group of people, our son had managed to fall in the pool 
and as some of our friends panicked at the sight; our son turned immediately over into his float 
and calmly waited for us to pull him out.  It just goes to show just how fast something tragic could 
happen, but to our son it was no big deal, he just did what he had learned to do.  The skills that 
Therace taught both of our sons was invaluable. 
Therace was very professional, patient, and kind throughout our son’s lessons.  She adapted for 
each of their personalities and illustrated her extensive knowledge of the skills she taught.  She 
genuinely cared about them and their well-being.  Our sons adored her and loved showing off their 
skills as they learned them.  Both boys learned lifesaving skills and also gained confidence. 
We continue to recommend her to everyone we know with young children. Her teaching skills 
combined with the benefits of the ISR program help prevent tragic drownings.  Therace went 
above and beyond by teaching our sons a skill that literally saved their lives.  Words cannot express 
how much that means to us.   
 
Rachael & Adam Caiazzo 
 
 
To Whom It May Concern, 
 
I am writing this email in response to Therace Pollard, ISR instructor.  Therace worked 
with our daughter, Isabelle, for the first few years of her life and I can honestly say it was 
one of the best decisions we have ever made as parents for the health and safety of our 
child. 
 
Growing up in the heat of Arizona, it’s quite common for residents to have a swimming pool 
in their backyards.  Although a swimming pool isn’t the only place a child can drown, it 
seems to be the most common and every time that we hear of a drowning it’s devastating. 
 
Therace has worked for many years with thousands of children and the patience and 
professionalism she displays is unlike any other.  A true “master” at teaching survival skills 
for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers.  Her backyard is pristine and traffic is 
kept to a minimum with specific instructions on time slots and noise control.  Therace 
speaks in a soft, controlled manner and spectators are kept to a minimum also with 
instruction to keep noise down.   
 
I, as many others, can testify to the positive impact she has had on society and making 
childrens’ safety the number one priority as it should be. 
 
Sincerely, 
Angie Smith 
480-452-5792

4.27.2021 
 
 
Dear Ms. Schumann, 
 
I am writing this letter of support for Therace Pollard to assist in her approval for her Use Permit 
to allow for swim lessons at her single-family home. My 3 year old daughter and I first met Mrs. 
Pollard about a year ago through her ISR lessons. My daughter immediately felt comfortable 
with Therace and almost immediately asked to go on weekends too. In fact, my daughter 
continued to ask  this entire year when she would get to see Mrs.Therace again. She made a 
lasting and life saving impact on my daughter. 
 
I am very grateful to have been fortunate enough to bring my daughter to the truly incredible 
work that Therace provides to the community. While there are many amazing people who teach 
these lessons, it was clear on day one, the genuine passion Therace has for saving the lives of all 
children.  
 
In conclusion, I sincerely support the efforts of Therace Pollard in her approval for her Use 
Permit to allow for swim lessons at her single-family home. The community will be greatly 
impacted by your assistance in the approval of this permit. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Raegan Kraft 
1541 S Velero Pl. 
Chandler, AZ 85286 
raegan.kraft19@gmail.com   
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
To whom it may concern: 
I wanted to personally write a letter to express my gratitude and respect for what Therace Pollard has been able to 
accomplish for our community by teaching Infant Swim Resource (ISR) lessons to our youngest members of the 
community. I first met Therace 6 years ago when I was looking for swim lessons for my oldest daughter (who is 
now 7). A friend of mine raved about ISR so I thought I would give it a try. From the moment I met Therace I knew 
ISR was the right choice for our family. As a new mom, I was very nervous about my 9-month-old learning to swim, 
but the fear of her drowning scared me even more! Therace took the time to explain the lessons and on several 
occasions invited me into the pool with her so I could learn and see first how what she is working on with my 
daughter. Fast forward to today, I have two children who have been students of Therace’s and ISR has been the 
best investment my family has made. My girls have no fear around the water and when they are uncomfortable or 
start to get scared, they immediately roll into their floats and safely exit to pool. It is incredible to see their growth 
over the years and I am forever grateful to Therace and the gift that she has given us through ISR. 
 
Stacey Rostek

To Whom it May Concern, 
 
My family and I have been a part of the Ms. Therace’s ISR lessons for two years now and 
she is adored by our children. My oldest daughter began taking classes when she was a 
year and a half old. While we were enrolled in ISR during her first year, we took a family 
trip to the ocean. While in the bay, my daughter began walking towards me, tripped, fell 
into the water, and immediately went to her back and began floating. Though she was only 
in a couple feet of water, it was extremely reassuring to see that she knew what to do in 
these types of situations. The skills that Ms. Therace teaches are imperative to any child, 
especially here in Arizona. She is so amazing with our kids and even when they begin to get 
upset as they are learning, she is patient and always so positive. I have recommended Ms. 
Therace to numerous families and will continue to do so because I know she the best out 
there. We are in full support of Ms. Therace being able to continue doing what she does 
best, saving the lives of children.  
 
Shelby Swim 
 
 
To whom it may concern,  
I would like to express my upmost support and respect for Therace Pollard and her ISR 
program. Every year children drown in their own backyards because they slip out from their 
parent’s watchful eye for just a moment. Thanks to Therace and her work with young children 
in our community she will help to slow these rising statistics.  
My son, Waylon, started in Therace’s ISR program last year at 18 months old, he was fearful 
and reluctant to trust the process. But with time and patience I watched my son gain trust in 
Mrs. Therace and begin to follow her lead. She pushed him with a gentle but firm hand staying 
consistent but also modifying her methods to best fit his needs.  I watched my son gain 
confidence as he learned how to maneuver through the water. When we began the program, 
he would panic as he did not know what to do when he needed a breath. As we concluded our 
first year of the program with Mrs. Therace I watched all his panic leave because he was 
equipped with the knowledge of how to rest and float on his back for a breath.  
We knew that we were going to be returning to Therace the following year for a refresher in 
her ISR program. This time around Waylon was much more receptive to the process. He was 
eager every day to get into the water and in his mind, play with Mrs. Therace. She got to know 
Waylon individually and found his favorite toys to place on the bottom of the pool to engage 
him in swim each day. Waylon flourished in his learning this year and I will forever be grateful 
to Therace for his knowledge of how to safely float through the water when he needs a rest.  
I believe whole heartedly in Therace Pollard and her ISR program, I support her process and her 
ability to help each child that she has in her pool. Her pool is a place of love and learning, which 
we hope to continue to return to year after year.  
Thank you,  
Taylor Standifird

To whom it may concern: 
My name is Jill Kunnen and my husband and I have four children. Living in Arizona, everyone 
has a pool to stay cool and active in our extremely hot summers. As parents of four children 
ages 9 to 3, it is a top priority to make sure our children are safe in and around water. When 
our oldest child was 19 months old we decided to enroll her in a local swim school to learn 
survival swim. For a year and a half, I was in the water with our daughter and the instructor 
weekly. By the time she was 3 she was still not able to independently float or swim to the side 
of the pool. I knew then that we needed something else that would focus on survival swim. I 
had heard about Infant Swim Resource and the great results other kids had with it. That’s when 
I looked up instructors near me and found Therace Pollard. I am so glad that I did! She has 
taught all four of our children how to swim and float and SURVIVE in the water. I have had 3 
kids graduate from her ISR training and I currently have my 3 year old in a refresher with her. 
She is patient and kind and all of my kids love her. Most importantly, they all are able to float 
and swim. It has given us incredible peace of mind over the years to know that our kids can 
swim and float, especially while having all four kids in the pool at once. We are so grateful to 
Therace and her ISR instruction that has literally saved our children’s lives. We recommend her 
and ISR training for all parents with young children. Please continue to allow Therace to 
continue this extremely important work! 
 
Gratefully, 
Jill and George Kunnen