Countless Fairfax County residents can attribute their swimming skills to Betty Cook. Her name has become synonymous at Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) as THE “Learn to Swim” guru. Using her expertise and leadership in the “Learn to Swim” curriculum, she created the Virginia Swims Instructor Course, which has been used to certify more than 125 new swim instructors. Aquatics customers continually share rave reviews about the instructors certified through this program, showcasing the effect of Betty’s incredible leadership in Fairfax. “I can confidently say that this course would not have ever been completed without her assistance in getting it over the finish line,” says Brianne Baglini, FCPA Park Services Operations Branch Manager.

Betty also created the “Get Set, Get Wet” educational outreach program with other FCPA aquatics professionals. This water safety training is offered for preschool-age children to provide them with lifesaving skills in and around water. Over the past two years, more than 6,000 young children have interacted with this program, which continues to grow and expand thanks to Betty’s contributions. When asked about her position, Betty said “I believe the Rec Centers provide an essential community resource. We have members for whom this is not just a place to work out or take a class. This is their daily connection to community. I am grateful to be here let them know I am happy to see them and let them know they were missed when they were away.”

Betty began working at Cub Run Rec Center in the fall of 2021. In addition to her instrumental work developing the aquatics curriculum and leading the implementation of new programs, she routinely teaches swim lessons when teachers cannot make it to a lesson. She is dedicated not only to the programs and staff at Cub Run but also to Cub Run customers. Her positivity, dedication and enthusiasm are infectious to everyone around her and have led to improvements in team morale at Cub Run and an increase in enrollment and revenue of aquatics programs since she started working for FCPA.

Betty has taken on the challenge of making Cub Run’s Leisure Pool and aquatics programs successful. Betty’s willingness to fill in staffing gaps and her work to improve and increase program offerings, including working at the Leisure Pool during birthday parties, have helped the Rec Center succeed. She focuses not only on Cub Run’s success, but her own as well. She has received her Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification and presented at association conferences, including the Virginia Recreation and Park Society and National Recreation and Park Association.

Betty’s programs have vastly influenced Fairfax residents of all ages. Her contributions have made a lasting mark on Cub Run Rec Center.