Our Staff

Hello! I am the founder and co-owner of Gemstone Gymnastics, along with my husband Chris. I opened Gemstone because I believe that EVERY child benefits from gymnastics.

Gymnastics provides so much more than learning cartwheels-it increases confidence, instills a lifelong love of physical fitness, supports academic achievement, and so much more! I wanted to create an environment where every child, no matter what their abilities or goals in gymnastics are, will find a supportive, encouraging and fun environment to play and grow. At Gemstone we equally value all of our students, from the baby class through the highest competitive level, each child is precious to us!

I began coaching gymnastics in 2005 after many years as a gymnast, cheerleader, and dancer. I have coached all ages and levels of gymnastics from babies through teenagers including competitive teams in the Junior Olympic program. I graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2008 with a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Child Development. I have multiple coaching and safety certifications from the gymnastics National Governing Body, and am a current certified high school and Junior Olympic gymnastics judge. Continuing education in my field is a passion of mine, because I believe in learning from the best to be the best for YOU!

Learn about why I opened Gemstone Gymnastics here: It’s Nice To Meet You

Hi I am Chris, co-owner with my wife Sara, and CFO of Gemstone. My background is in business and finance, which means I am a behind the scenes guy at Gemstone.

I don’t teach any classes, but I work to keep the business running smoothly in the office. Sara has taught me everything I know about gymnastics – including how to do a cartwheel! Although, I’m not sure you’d want to see that, it isn’t very pretty!

Learn more about why we opened Gemstone Gymnastics: It’s Nice To Meet You!

Miss Alyssa started gymnastics when she was 8 and quickly fell in love with the artistic sport! When she was 11, she took a short break while she explored her love for dance and ballet. She then went on to captain her High School’s competitive cheer team for all 4 years! From a young age, Miss Alyssa knew she wanted to work with children, and has served as a youth leader for different churches for over 13 years while also volunteering at many children’s events in the community. Miss Alyssa earned her BA in Psychological Sciences from CSU San Marcos and has experience working as a behavior therapist. 

Miss Alyssa’s favorite Disney character is Anna from Frozen, and she loves carnitas street tacos! When asked what she loves most about coaching, she said “I love encouraging students to try new things, conquer their fears and feel confident in who they are and what they are capable of!”

Mr. Andy has a B.A. in History and Political Science from California State University, Sacramento. He has coached gymnastics to children of all ages and levels for many years.

His favorite character is Wall-E, and his favorite animal is a tiger! He loves tacos, and when asked why he loves coaching, he said: “I love being able to make a positive impact and see children build confidence.”

Andy grew up on the east coast, taking gymnastics and tumbling classes as a young kid until he switched to soccer, baseball, then volleyball, track and field, and ultimate frisbee throughout his growing years. Since graduating from Eckerd College with a degree in Environmental Studies, Andy spent the next ten years teaching informal, outdoor, and classroom education- all based in the sciences. Andy moved to San Diego in 2020, and when he isn’t coaching can be found exploring tidepools at the beach, hiking through Mission Trails, or finding tasty tacos all over town.

Mr. Andy’s favorite Disney character is Mushu, from Mulanl, and his favorite food is Carnitas tacos. When asked what he loves about coaching, he said: “I love helping others realize their strength, encouraging resilience, and giving top notch high-fives!”.

Growing up, Miss Ashley did gymnastics for about 14 years, starting when she was a toddler! She then gained experience on both a performance and competition team during elementary and middle school before competing on her high school’s varsity gymnastics team. After graduation, she worked as an assistant coach for that program for 3 seasons. While earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology at SDSU, she spent 3 years working in higher education supporting community college students with their career goals. This has inspired her to return to SDSU to earn her master’s degree in counseling (education). Miss Ashley loves working within learning communities of all ages because she is passionate about supporting people as they progress towards their goals. 

Miss Ashley’s favorite Disney character is 22 from the movie Soul, because her story reminds us how valuable the simple things are in life. When asked what she loves most about coaching, she said “I love watching athletes find more confidence and empowerment by setting and achieving goals. As a coach, it is my job to encourage them through challenges and give them guidance so that they feel capable and resilient.”

Miss Avery is currently studying Microbiology at Mesa College with the goal of becoming a Physician’s Assistant. She was a competitive gymnast for six years and cheerleader for four years. Miss Avery also has experience working in childcare with children ages 5-7 and children of various ages as a leader in local cheer camps. 

Miss Avery’s favorite Disney character is Mulan, because she’s brave and follows her heart. Her favorite food is any kind of soup. When asked what he loves about coaching, she said: “I love to build connections with the parents and the athletes. I also love to watch the athlete’s grow; not only in their skills but in their self-confidence as well.”