Instructors
Amanda Walker
Director of Gymnastics, Team Coach and Recreational Gymnastics Instructor | 9th Year with Guild Gymnastics
Gymnastics or Previous Experience: Former Gymnast thru level 9 and Competitive Dancer with UDA/NDA/High School. She has been involved in Gymnastics for over 28 years and has been coaching for over 10 years.
Favorite Event to Coach: Beam/Floor
Sports Accomplishments/certificates: Level 6 Bar state champion. Placed at several state meets in levels 4-7. Team placements on Dance Team UDA/NDA competitions UDA All American. Have coached many Level 3 state champions.
Currently Teaching at the Guild: Flyers 1, Flyers 2, Competitive team
Katie Hardin
Instructor | 5th Year with Guild Gymnastics
Gymnastics or Previous Experience: A recreational gymnast until age 11 then switched to tumbling classes. Cheer from 7th grade all the way through high school. Katie was a DHS Football and Competition Cheerleader all 4 years of high school. Graduated from DHS as an IB Art Student. "I Love art and especially love to paint and draw!". Don’t be surprised if you see Katie showing off some of her Cheer Dance and Tumbling!
Favorite Event to Coach: Vault
Katie is currently a student at UTC working toward a bachelors degree in Exercise Science. She is also a very talented artist and creates much of the art work seen at the Cleveland Highway Facility.
Sports accomplishments/certificates: 2008/2009 Region 7 AAAA Jump Champion in Cheerleading. A member of the DHS cheerleading squad that won 10thplace at state championships.
Currently Teaching at the Guild: Preschool, Flyers 1 & 2, Cheer, Tumbling T.5 - Tumbling 3, and Conditioning for our Competitive Team.
Jeorgia Hicks
Instructor and Team Coach | 2nd Year with Guild Gymnastics
Jeorgia began her USA gymnastics career at the age of 5 at American Elite Gymnastics where she competed until the age of 17. Her favorite events to compete were floor and beam where she was the state champion on both from 2004-2012 (varying levels). Jeorgia was the captain of her optional gymnastics team throughout all 4 years of high school. She attended Silverdale Baptist Academy from sixth through twelfth grade, where she graduated fourth in her class with a GPA over a 4.0. She was involved in the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta (national math society), and was a fellowship leader for the FCA program. She swam in the CASL Swim League for 12 years. She was a Collegiate Swimmer for 2 years at Carson Newman University before transferring to Chattanooga State. Jeorgia is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, with an emphasis in Pre-Medicine. She has coached for a total of 3 years in gymnastics at American Elite Gymnastics and 2 years in swimming. She is enjoying working in the Guild Gymnastics Department and looks forward to the year ahead.
Opeletia Helton
Gymnastics or Previous Experience: Opeletia trained as a recreational gymnast for 8 years before becoming an award-winning cheerleader where she performed during halftime at the Capital One Orange Bowl. For over two years, she has directed summer camps, developed course curriculums, instructed classes, and hosted birthday parties along with gym sleepovers for children of various ages and of a wide range of ability.
Favorite Event to Teach: Floor
Opeletia is currently a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she is a Brock Scholar’s honor student and majors in International Studies while minoring in Public Administration and Non-Profit Management. She serves as a mentor in local middle schools for young girls and leads a women’s small group for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Staff Contact Information:
For questions and information about Preschool, Recreational or Team Gymnastics; or Gym Operations, please contact Amanda Walker at amandaw@creativeartsguild.org or (706) 259-0093.
Jessie Fincher is the Cleveland Highway Center Director (and Dance Director) and is available for any additional questions or concerns at jessief@creativeartsguild.org or (706) 259-7264