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!

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!”.

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.”

With a passion for athletics and coaching, Miss Britnie has spent over a decade in the world of competitive gymnastics and cheerleading. After 10 years of competing in gymnastics and cheerleading, she cheered for a year at the University of South Florida. She then transitioned to coaching gymnastics for five years, helping young athletes develop their techniques and confidence. For the past six years, Miss Britnie has been homeschooling her three boys. She is passionate about inspiring others to pursue their passions and to stay active.

Miss Britnie’s  favorite Disney character is Merida because she is strong, brave, and  is confident in just being herself! Her favorite food is tacos. When asked what she loves about coaching, she said: “I love seeing children’s self-confidence grow as they accomplish new skills they’ve worked hard to learn”.

Miss Camille has a B.A. in French from San Francisco State University and has many years of experience in early childhood education. She previously worked as a teacher at a French immersion preschool. She is a former gymnast and coaches classes in addition to working in our front office.

Miss Camille’s favorite character is Princess Belle, and her favorite animal is a lion! She loves thai food, and when asked what she loves about coaching, she said: “I love getting to build relationships with kids and teach them awesome skills!”.