We are excited to announce our Instructor Spotlight series, where we will highlight our exceptional instructors, so you may get more insight about who they are and what makes them such an integral part of our Recreation team!  

SPRING, 2021
My name is Miss Vanessa, but my dancers call me Miss V! My love for dance stems from my 20 years of experience starting when I was just 3 years old.

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher of some sort. After my first dance teaching opportunity at the age of 15, I knew that was it!  I was made to be a dance teacher.

I am classically trained in ballet and have performed in many recitals and ballets including the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. I am also trained in hip hop, jazz, lyrical, competition cheerleading/song, and tumbling. I have taught baby beginner ballerinas, high school cheerleaders, and everything in between.

I truly love working with kids and being a positive influence in their lives at such a young age.  I am very passionate about my job and dancers. All of my dancers have a very special place in my heart.  

WINTER, 2021
Beginners Edge Sports Training, or B.E.S.T. for short, is a family-owned and operated Sports-for-Kids Company run by a hands-on husband and wife team and a pretty incredible staff located in Arizona and California.

How did B.E.S.T Sports come to fruition?   Our daughters first word was “ball”.   She loved anything that rolled and she played with them all day long.  Thinking our daughter could be an athlete while growing up and longing for a fun, energetic class atmosphere, to provide a better quality of life than commuting every day into Manhattan, we established our own sports company and wrote curriculums for each age group and sport.   Our daughter is now in college pursuing law and runs away when you throw a ball in her direction, but B.E.S.T. will live on for those parents looking for non-competitive, quality sports instruction that is high-energy FUN - no matter what your child’s skill-level is.

B.E.S.T. offers weekly classes in soccer, baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, multi-sport etc. For the youngest players, it’s never a Mommy or Daddy & Me – we are an actual teaching program for kids 16 months through age 12 – but we make it FUN! cater to beginners of every age group, who have never touched a ball before all the way through to the kids who know their stuff and want to perfect their game and get the edge over other players. We don’t want kids to compare themselves to other kids, they each work at their own skill-level and develop in their own time with lots of practice.

With the opportunity to offer such a wide range of sports each quarter, we are able to make sure we find the right sport and class for the new generation of active kids in the City of Upland.

FALL, 2020
I have enjoyed teaching Tiny Tots in the City of Upland for the past eleven years.  My passion to teach children has led me to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Development and continues to lead me to further my education to better children in our community.

Mrs. Gracie works by my side as my Assistant Teacher.  Together, we work to provide a meaningful experience that will help to build your child's personal interest in learning and preparing for Kindergarten.  Tiny Tots is a wonderful beginning for your child.  Your child's success if our greatest gratification.

FALL, 2020
I have had the pleasure of working with the City of Upland's Tiny Tots Program for the past eleven years. 

Together, with Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Leach, we are able to provide over twenty years of experience each and the tools necessary to prepare your child for Kindergarten. 

We look forward to our 2020-2021 school year and preparing your child in their beginning stages of education.

FALL, 2020
I am proud to say that since the mid 1990's, my family has been serving Upland the surrounding communities, teaching quality martial arts and the benefits that come with martial arts.  Over the course of of twenty-five years, we have seen three generations train with us.

We have taught classes with Upland Recreation and Community Services for the past ten years.

Our program has always focused on and will continue to focus on confidence, self-discipline, self-defense, honor, and honesty.

The past six months have provided a challenging time for all of us.  Although we have been closed for our regular classes in this crisis, we have continued to provide virtual classes on various internet platforms and through video lessons.  When we are able to do so, we are hoping to see you all in person.  Whether returning or for the first time, we look forward to greeting new and old friends at the Upland Martial Arts Center again soon!

SUMMER, 2020
I have been the owner of Baldy View Gymnastics for 25 years now!  I started out as that little girl doing gymnastics in the backyard when I was 7 or 8.  From there, I showed up to a gymnastics class provided by Upland Recreation and Community Services and they placed me on a team!  I competed for the Upland Gainers, then, later joined Baldy View Gymnastics Team.

I started coaching gymnastics at Upland Gainers while I attended high school.  After graduating from Cal Poly, Pomona, with a degree in Electrical Engineering, I worked at Boeing in Long Beach, while coaching and judging gymnastics at the same time.  In 1994, I ended up buying my former gymnastics school, Baldy View Gymnastics.  At that time, there were approximately 85 students in the program.  Today, we have 500 students!  Shortly after buying Baldy View Gymnastics, we began offering classes through Upland Recreation and Community Services.

Do you have a special skill, hobby, or trade and would like to teach a class or workshop?  Share your expertise and talent, and make a difference in the lives of others.  Please complete the Contract Proposal Handbook offered below and return to Upland Recreation and Community Services located inside Magnolia Park, 651 W. 15th Street, Upland.

For questions and additional information, please contact Upland Recreation and Community Services via email to sguzman@ci.upland.ca.us.