Learning to swim opens the door to confidence, new experiences and skills that can save a life. At W.W. Emmons Natatorium, a new grant will help students build that foundation, from learning to stay afloat to developing the techniques used in competitive swimming.

Congratulations to George Kutac and co-applicant Michael Stokebrand, recipients of a 2026 J. Landon Short Mini Grant for Educators for “Every Child: Water Safety & Competitive Swimming.”

“The grant will provide training aids to help students build confidence and water safety skills while supporting those who are learning proper stroke technique,” Kutac said.

About one in four students participating in swimming instruction at W.W. Emmons Natatorium entered with little to no ability to stay afloat safely on their own, making these tools especially valuable for students learning this essential skill.

For students who are still building confidence, flotation belts will provide additional support while allowing them to practice proper body position. These belts are especially helpful when teaching students to float or swim on their backs. With that added support, students can focus on keeping their bodies horizontal rather than sitting upright in the water, building a foundation for safer, more efficient swimming.

The grant will also purchase FINIS Forearm Fulcrums, figure-eight training devices that help students align their hands, wrists and forearms to work together as one surface that catches and moves water during a stroke. These tools will support instruction in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, helping students develop more effective technique so they can swim farther and faster.

Together, the training aids will give instructors more ways to meet individual students’ needs, helping learners gain confidence, strengthen water safety skills and progress toward more advanced swimming.

That connection between water safety and athletic opportunity is also central to the district’s plans for a new natatorium through the voter-approved 2025 Bond program.

“The construction of the new facility is not only an investment in athletic excellence, but also an investment in the safety of our community,” Kutac said. Designed with swimmers of all levels in mind, the new facility will provide an environment where SBISD can expand its existing lifesaving swimming instruction and reach more students and community members of all ages.

Projects like this grant support that vision by helping students build skills they can carry with them throughout their lives. Generous community partners make these grants possible, helping educators turn ideas into opportunities for students. That is #CollectiveGreatness in action.

You can help make great things happen for students, too. Visit www.springbranchisd.com/page/engage to learn how you can support SBISD students, classrooms and schools.