Staff
Isabel Callaway
Isabel Callaway (M.Ed., University of Washington) is the Program Manager for Swim for Charlie and serves as the primary liaison between Swim for Charlie staff and our program’s school and pool partners. She brings nearly 10 years of experience in education, spanning roles in the classroom, nonprofits, and research.
Isabel works closely with a wide range of partners including parents, school superintendents, principals, teachers, bus transportation administrators and pool facility directors, to ensure each program day runs smoothly. Throughout her work, she has focused on reducing barriers in the education system and helping students and families thrive. She loves that Swim for Charlie helps students discover the joy of being in the water while building their water-safety skills and confidence.
Isabel grew up swimming competitively, visiting her grandparents in North Carolina, and cheering on the Duke Blue Devils long before attending Duke herself as an undergraduate. She’s happy to be back in Durham, contributing to a community that has shaped both her life and her work
Paige Welch
Paige Welch joined Swim for Charlie as a volunteer instructor and now serves as Pool Coordinator and Assistant Program Manager, supporting program delivery and operations.
A lifelong lap swimmer who also competes in open water events, she brings a deep passion for working with children and teaching life-saving water safety skills.
Paige first began teaching water safety in high school and has since returned to the pool as a certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor.
Paige holds a PhD in United States History from Duke University and a BA in Women’s Studies from the University of California, Irvine. She is also an active printmaker and painter who teaches screen printing at Super G Print Lab in Durham and shows her work at PEEL Gallery in Carrboro.
Ava Alston Brownlee
Ava Alston Brownlee serves as assistant pool coordinator and volunteer instructor with Swim for Charlie since the program’s inception in September 2022. She is an American Red Cross certified water safety instructor who also works part-time with Durham Parks and Recreation, teaching water safety and swim lessons to all age groups.
Ava draws on her roots as a native of Durham and on her academic achievements in all her pursuits. Following her graduation as an honors student from Hillside High School in 1973, she continued her studies at Boston University, earning a degree from the School of Management in 1977.
Ava has spent her life dedicated to public serving. Her combined experience, passion for swimming, and dedication to children’s water safety—especially for those with limited resources—make her a natural fit for Swim for Charlie. She is dedicated to inspiring and motivating children, modeling diversity in leadership, and helping the program achieve its mission.
Our lovely headshot photographs created, and generously donated to Swim for Charlie, by Alec Himwich.
To view more of Alec’s work, visit https://www.alechimwich.com/
Partnerships
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