Coaches
COACH BETH, OWNER
Beth Gardner, owner of Heart of Texas Gymnastics located in Temple, Texas has an extensive background specializing in preschool gymnastics, recreational, men’s and women’s compulsory team and special needs gymnastics.
In addition to experience as a Preschool Director, coach and gym owner, she is co-author and director for the Instructor Training Program (ITP) Preschool and Instructor Training Program (ITP) Recreational courses for Gymnastics Association of Texas (GAT). She is the author of the Instructor Training Porgram (ITP) Brain and Body course for the Gymnastics Association of Texas, adopted by USA Gymnastics as Brain and Body: Beyond the Basics. She is the Director and Author of the Instructor Training Program: Kickstart for boys course for GAT and a contributor to the USA Gymnastics M200, men’s course. She authored the Discover Fitness Foundation Handbook for training coaches in working with special needs.
Beth has served as a USA Gymnastics National Instructor since 1997. Courses for which she has served as Instructor include USAG Kinder Accreditation for Teachers (KAT) and USAG Movement Development and Lesson Plan Development (MELPD) courses. She currently serves as a National Instructor for the USA Gymnastics Preschool Fundamentals & HOT training course and is the co-author and National Instructor for the USA Gymnastics Hands on Training School Age R103, and M200 Men’s Course.
She has served on the Gymnastics Association of Texas Executive Board, USA Gymnastics Preschool Advisory Board, USA Gymnastics Safesport Committee, and the USA Gymnastics Safety Review Board. In addition to speaking for USA Gymnastics National, Regional and State Congresses, she has been a private consultant and clinician specializing in preschool, recreational, men’s and special needs staff training since 1997. Her acclaim has carried her to the international markets as well, speaking, teaching and publishing articles abroad. She is a founding board member for the international consortium Movement Matters International, working with the goal of establishing research-based special needs gymnastics programs throughout North America. Domestically, her articles have appeared in “Technique” magazine and she has compiled her lesson plans and coaching philosophies in numerous books and DVD’s.
Additional Activities:
- Multiple Appearances in Gymsmarts “Gymnastics Minute” and USA Gymnastics “Nuggets of Knowledge” videos
- Consultant in the field of Inclusive (special needs) Gymnastics for Flaghouse, Inc.
- Mentor for University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program, 2020
- International Association of Child Development Programs, Ambassador and Panelist, 2020 – Present
- Expert Witness
Her child-first philosophy and a skill-based curriculum, emphasizing education through creative techniques in a safety-oriented, fun and loving environment have proven effective in building dynamic and highly successful preschool gymnastics and mobile gym-bus programs. Her background also includes volunteering and coaching children and adults with special needs within her program as well as through Special Olympics and other private organizations, and researching ways to address special needs in the gym environment. As owner of Heart of Texas Gymnastics since 1999, she coaches preschool, recreational and team gymnastics for both men’s and women’s programs.
Beth was extremely honored to receive the 2003 and 2007 Distinguished Service Awards from Gymnastics Association of Texas and one of the 2005 Remarkable Woman Awards from ABC Television “The View” for her dedication and contributions to the development of the sport of gymnastics and helping others overcome barriers. She received USA Gymnastics National Instructor of the Year 2012, Temple Education Foundation All Star Award 2014, and the Gymnastics Association of Texas Life Member Award 2014, Bell County Judge and Commissioner’s Committee on People with Disabilities Rusty Award, Business of the Year, 2015, Temple Daily Telegram Reader’s Choice Award Best Gymnastics in Bell County, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and Fitness and Nutrition Awards 2020: Pre-School Gymnastics Programme of the Year – Central Texas.
She teaches Physical Education and runs the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program at Providence Preparatory School.
She is a 1983 graduate of Texas A&M University.
Certifications:
- KAT: Kinder Accreditation for Teachers (Completed 08/19/1998)
- MELPD: Movement Education Lesson Plan Development (Completed 08/17/2000)
- PDP1: Professional Development Level 1 (Completed 09/21/1992)
- U100: Fundamentals of Gymnastics Instruction (Completed 01/18/2011)
- U101: Safety & Risk Management (Completed 10/05/2020)
- U101: Safety & Risk Management (Completed 08/08/2017)
- U101: Safety & Risk Management (Completed 09/05/2013)
- U101: Safety & Risk Management (Completed 07/12/2009)
- U101: Safety & Risk Management (Completed 09/05/2004)
- U101: Safety & Risk Management (Completed 06/24/2000)
- U103: USA Gymnastics Fitness (Completed 07/15/2017)
- U112: Tough Coaching or Emotional Abuse: Knowing When the Line Has Been Crossed (Completed 10/11/2021)
- U113: USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Policy Course (Completed 10/11/2021)
- U302: Recognizing and Responding to Child Abuse (Completed 12/01/2017)
- 2014 Region 3 Congress – All Days (Completed 06/30/2014)
- U310: USA Gymnastics Region 4 Congress (All Days) -2015 (Completed 06/12/2015)
- U310: USA Gymnastics Region 5 Congress- ALL DAYS (Completed 09/16/2016)
- U310: Regional Congress 2014 (Completed 09/14/2014)
- U310: USA Gymnastics Region 8 Congress – ALL DAYS (Completed 06/17/2016)
- U310: USA Gymnastics Region 8 Congress (All Days) -2015 (Completed 06/19/2015)
- U310: USA Gymnastics Regional Congress – 2011 (Completed 07/31/2011)
- U310: USA Gymnastics Region 3 Congress – 2008 (Completed 07/01/2008)
- 2019 National Congress (Completed 08/09/2019)
- 2017 National Congress (Completed 08/17/2017)
- 2016 National Congress (Completed 07/08/2016)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress 2015 (Completed 08/13/2015)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2014 (Completed 08/20/2014)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2012 (Completed 05/28/2012)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2010 (Completed 07/20/2010)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2004 (Completed 06/26/2004)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2005 (Completed 08/13/2005)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2008 (Completed 06/21/2008)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2009 (Completed 08/15/2009)
- U410: USA Gymnastics National Congress – 2011 (Completed 07/18/2011)
School of Competitive Gymnastics: Trampoline & Tumbling
- T200: Trampoline & Tumbling Development Coaches Course (Completed 01/31/2019)
School of Recreational Gymnastics
- R101: Preschool Fundamentals: Theory (Completed 11/13/2011)
School of Judging
- WPDCP: Womens Professional Developemnt Certification Program (Completed 08/20/2002)
U.S. Center for Safe Sport
- U110: SafeSport Core Training (Completed 07/15/2017)
- U110: SafeSport Refresher 1 (Completed 06/20/2019)
- U110: SafeSport Refresher 2 (Completed 07/31/2021)
- U110: SafeSport Refresher 3 (Completed 08/05/2022)
- U110: SafeSport Trained (Completed 07/29/2020)
Ready Bodies Learning Minds
COACH DOUG
Recreational Coach, Team Coach
Professional USAG Member
Safety Certified, Safe Sport Certified, Instructor Training Program (ITP) Recreational, Instructor Training Program (ITP) Boys, Instructor Training Program (ITP) Brain & Body.
Speaker for Gymnastics Association of Texas Instructor Training Program (ITP) Kickstart for Boys.
COACH CHAD
Assistant Coach
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Preschool, Instructor Training Program Recreational
COACH NATE
Recreational, Tumbling and Team Coach.
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Recreational
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Brain & Body
Safety Certified
Safesport Certified
USAG Pro Member
COACH LUKE
Recreational, Tumbling and Team Coach.
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Brain & Body
Safety Certified
Safesport Certified
USAG Instructor Member
COACH KENZIE
Preschool, Recreational and Team Coach
Safety Certified
Safesport Certifiec
USAG Pro Member
COACH EMMA
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Recreational
COACH SCOTTY
Preschool, Recreational & Team Coach
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Recreational
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Brain & Body
USAG Athlete Member
COACH ELIZA
Preschool and Recreational Coach
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Recreational
USAG Athlete Member
COACH HALEY
Preschool and Recreational Coach
Instructor Training Program (ITP) Recreational