Meet Our Staff
Sydney Snyder
Team Coach, Instructor, Choreographer
Certifications:
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First Aid Certification
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Heartsaver CPR AED
Sydney has always loved dance and gymnastics. She grew up taking dance and tumbling lessons in Ronan starting at four years old. She then began attending gymnastics classes with Jessica when she was eleven and fell in love with it. After a few years of taking classes from Jessica, she started coaching and discovered how much she loves working with kids of all ages. Her favorite events in gymnastics are beam and floor because they involve so much technique and dance. Sydney has been officially coaching for the past two years and hopes to continue coaching for a long time.
Jessica and Jason Edwards
and Kilty, Riley, Jack and Avery Edwards
Owners, Instructors, Team Coach,
Ninja Program
Certifications:
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USAG Professional Certification
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USAG Instructor Certification
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USAG Safety Certification
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First Aid Certification
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Heartsaver CPR AED
Jessica has loved gymnastics since she took her first lesson at age 5. She competed through level 8, and has over 25 years of teaching experience. She started Head Over Heels in Polson in 2010, though it didn't have a name till 2013. In the fall of 2016 we moved into our new facility. Now the whole family is involved: Jason has developed the curriculum for our Mountain Climbers Classes; KIlty, Riley and Jack teach or assist with classes and Open Gyms; and Avery is competes on the Osprey Gymnastics Team.
JoLeah Nicholas
Dance Program Director
JJoLeah Nicholas wan’t born in Montana, but grew up visiting her grandparents in Ronan and officially made it her home in 2016. JoLeah Nicholas received her Pre-Professional Certification in Dance from Mirror Arts Program specializing in Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap and Choreography in 2012. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Teaching Dance at the University of Montana in Missoula of May 2021.
Gifted in teaching and imparting the love of dance to young movers has led JoLeah to work in
the community outside the classical studio. She has worked with various organizations like
Betty Huff Theatre Company (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) as a choreographer, as a
teacher at Adult Education District #30 (Ronan, Montana), at The Flagship Program (Missoula,
Montana), and at Ace Schools (Kalaw, Myanmar). JoLeah fell in love with dance ever since she
took her first Hip Hop class years ago when she was 18. Hip Hop then naturally became the
first style of dance she taught that grew to include Ballet and Contemporary giving her 10
years of teaching experience. JoLeah started the dance program at Head Over Heels in 2016
and its dance team Heels to the Streets in 2019. JoLeah believes anyone can dance no matter
the age or experience. JoLeah loves to teach, create and choreograph and looks forward every
year to the studio’s year end recitals where the students perform and shine on stage! JoLeah is
all about bringing energy and fun into the classroom while working hard and working up a
sweat!
Alysha Valentine
Choreographer/ Coach Emeritus
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Note: Alysha is very ill with a couple of auto-immune diseases and unable to hold a regular position at Head Over Heels. Please pray for her and for her family as she works toward recovery.
Certifications:
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USAG Instructor Certification
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USAG Safety Certification
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AACCA Fundamentals of Coaching
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AACCA Spirit Safety Certification
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CDC Concussions in Sports
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First Aid Certification
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Heartsaver CPR AED
Alysha is married to Steven and together they have three kids, Olivia, Hailey, and Noah. Alysha took dance and gymnastics in Sandpoint as a child until her family moved to Polson when she was nine. She took classes in the Flathead until she became a member of a pre professional tap dance company. Alysha was a cheerleader all through high school, then served as the head coach of her Polson High School cheer squad. She loves teaching at Head Over Heels, the outdoors, and shopping, but most of all anything she can do with her family.
Taleah Hernandez
Gymnastics Instructor/Team Gymnast
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Taleah is a Senior at Polson High School and has lived in Polson her whole life, enjoying all of the fun activities you can do on Flathead Lake. She has loved gymnastics for 12 years, starting with other programs, and eventually competing for Head Over Heels on the Osprey Team. Taleah enjoys spending time with her friends and family when she is not at Head Over Heels Gymnastics. Most of all Taleah enjoys learning gymnastics and being able to incorporate her knowledge into teaching.
Jeff Newton
Gymnastics and Tumbling Instructor/Team Coach
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Note: Jeff is being deployed into active duty again. Please pray for him and for his family while he is away.
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Jeff is father to three little girls, husband of Cora, is a disabled Army Veteran and Reservist, long-time gymnast, life-long adventurer, and now an instructor and Coach with Head Over Heels! We love the fun and experience he brings to the gym. To the left is a photo caught of Jeff in mid-air at the 4th of July parade in Polson. This and several other photos credits on this page go to our Athletic Trainer, Kyota Shizuku. Thanks!