Who is Miss Maddie?

My name is Madison Russell and I started Miss Maddie’s swim school over five years ago here in Atlanta, GA.

I have been in and around the water my whole life and became an open-water SCUBA Diver at the age of 13, a Rescue SCUBA Diver at 17, and a professional PADI SCUBA Diver at 18. With over 250 dives under my belt in the last decade, I have spent a total of 320 hours of time underwater.

In addition to my SCUBA experiences, I grew up right in Johns Creek where I attended Chattahoochee High School while lifeguarding for Dynamo swim club, both during the summer and at their indoor pool during the year. As I lifeguarded I became more and more interested in how kids learned to swim and felt I had knowledge to contribute.

This is where Miss Maddie’s Swim School origin story starts. I have been teaching kids how to swim for over a decade now and have successfully taught over 150 kids how to swim since 2013. I have also been a part-time and full-time nanny for over 20 kids in that same time frame.

My experiences with kids of all ages, working with parents, and extreme comfortability in all bodies of water have enabled me to develop Miss Maddie’s swim school into one of the most sought after (and fun!) swim schools in the Alpharetta, Roswell, and East Cobb areas of Atlanta.

Meet the Team

  • Meaghan

    Hi! My name is Meaghan and I am so excited to be a swim instructor with Miss Maddie’s Swim School! As a passionate swimmer, the pool has always been my second home, and I can’t wait to share my love for the water with new swimmers. I am looking forward to helping your children gain confidence, and have a fun time!

  • Lewis

    Hi, my name is Lewis, and I’m excited to be an instructor at Miss Maddie’s Swim School this summer! I’ve been swimming for years, including competitively, and I’ve always loved being in the water. Teaching kids to swim and helping them feel confident and safe is something I’m really passionate about. I’m looking forward to a fun and rewarding summer helping your children learn and grow in the pool!

  • Sarah

    Hi there! I'm Sarah, and I'm thrilled to be joining Miss Maddie's Swim School this summer. Growing up on a swim team gave me a deep love for the water, and I can't wait to share that passion with your kids. While I'll be off to Mercer School of Medicine this fall, my focus now is on helping children build their confidence in the water, making every lesson fun and encouraging!

  • Myles

    Hi there! I'm Myles, and I'm thrilled to be joining the swim school this summer to help kids build their confidence in the water. With extensive competitive swimming experience, a background as a lifeguard, and the privilege of coaching special needs kids in the pool, I'm eager to share my passion for the water. I’m excited to help swimmers grow with every fun and motivating lesson!

  • Lily

    Hello! My name is Lily, and I'm thrilled to be joining Miss Maddie's Swim School this summer. As a junior at UNG, I'm currently studying elementary and special education, and I have a strong background in childcare with six years as a babysitter and nanny. I'm eager to combine my love for teaching with my excitement for swimming to help your children build confidence and master the water!

  • Lia

    Hi! I'm Lia, excited to be part of the Miss Maddie's Swim School team. With an undergraduate degree in Marketing and eight years working with kids in sports (including teaching swim lessons!), I bring a unique blend of skills. My lifelong love for swimming fuels my current role: creating all our Instagram posts, graphics, and marketing materials to share the joy of swimming and everything great happening here!

  • "Our family is so blessed to have met Maddie! She is amazing with children & gained the trust of my young kids very early on. I was so impressed with her calm nature & ability to guide my kids through their fears with water. The consistency of Maddie's classes proved to be so valuable for my 5 & 2-year-old to gain the confidence they needed to gain life-saving skills in the water. I recommend Maddie to every parent I know because you get quality lessons & your kids (& you) will love her!"

    Jessica Curran

  • "Our family cannot recommend Maddie enough for swim lessons! She has a great presence with the kids that is firm yet patient, & they show true progress by the end of the session. Try her out, you will not regret it! We will be starting our 3rd child with her this summer & we can't wait!"

    Annie Oroho

  • "Starting our summer with Madison has been great for our son to strengthen his swimming right from the start of the season. The format is great for kids & speaks to their learning style. She's great with him & he looks forward to the sessions each day!"

    Amy Eagen