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2008 - 2009
Laurel Zimmerman Spears - Chief Operations Officer
Head Competitive Coach
Director of Dance
Ms. Laurel Zimmerman Spears, our head gymnastics coach and director of dance, has been associated with Huff ‘n Puff from its beginning in 1980. She began taking dance and gymnastics at age three and became a serious student of dance and gymnastics at age ten with the opening of Huff ‘n Puff. Ms. Laurel began assisting Huff ‘n Puff dance instructors at a very young age and as a young teenager, she began teaching ballet and tap to young students and jazz and tap to adults. Her background in dance comes from many years of study with well-known Arkansas instructors, through studio classes, college courses and private lessons. She also began teaching gymnastics at Huff ‘n Puff at age 14.
Several years ago, Ms. Laurel and her family returned to Arkansas so she could once again be a part of the business. She is a member of the professional USA Gymnastics Federation and is our head gymnastics and competitive team coach and director of both dance and gymnastics. Ms. Laurel is safety certified by USAG and is a USAG Skill Evaluator; she has also been a USAG Junior Olympic Judge. She has completed her Kinder Accreditation, a preschool gymnastics certification. She teaches advanced gymnastics and prepares the more advanced students for competitions. Nine years ago, she began the Jacksonville Gymnastics Competitive Team with eleven Level Four members. This summer our competitive team, Levels Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine, numbers around 75 competitors.
Laurel also oversees the dance programs but will not be teaching this year except in emergencies due to her heavy administrative and coaching schedule. We all have so much confidence in our instructors; they are fantastic and they know what is expected (having grown up in the business) and they accomplish it. Laurel formed the Jacksonville Dance Company six years ago and it continues to grow and succeed.
While managing Huff ‘n Puff, Laurel earned her second associate degree in 2003. Her first associate degree from the Art Institute of Dallas was in interior design and her second was in Business Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, in which she graduated magna cum laude. She is the mother of fourteen-year-old Tori and soon-to-be ten-year old Madi. Both girls are active in team gymnastics and dance company.
Spring, 2008
Ms. Laurel and daughters, Tori and Madi
Ms. Laurel and some of the Dance Instructors - 2008 JDC Audition Day from left to right are Ms. Emily, Ms. Laurel, Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Lois and Ms. Sara
Ms. Laurel with Lindsey Sweet and Kelsea Bruce - at Robinson Auditorium after a very successful 2007 recital. Lindsey and Kelsea were our graduating seniors.
Ms. Lois and Ms. Laurel after the 2007 Recital at Robinson.
Coach Laurel Spears, Head Team Coach
Coach Laurel at the Gym
Our Jacksonville Gymnastics USAG Junior Olympic Competitive Team Coaches -
Ms. Lois, Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Laurel, Ms. Erin and Ms. Christy - 2008!
This photo below was taken about a year ago (November, 2007) but these are our Team Coaches. Front row from left is Coaches Stacy Howerton and Lois Bryan. Back row, from left, are Coaches Christy Ellis, Laurel Spears and Erin Wunderl. Lindsey Sweet who is also coaching team now is not pictured here.
