RECognition: Kartyr Howe, Youth Programs/Aquatics

Recreation's monthly series to celebrate our staff

By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director

Children learning to swim through the UC San Diego Recreation Instructional Swimming Classes are in good hands.

Kartyr Howe’s hands, specifically. 

“Kartyr is a Head Swim Instructor,” says Assistant Aquatics Director Clayton Claiborn. “She has managed the youth swim lessons shift on Saturdays for the past year and done a phenomenal job.”

Currently pursuing her Master of Education degree, Kartyr joined Recreation in April of 2024 and has been guiding the next generation of swimmers ever since — and she’s been loving it. 

“I have a passion for teaching and with my swim background, I knew REC would be a great fit for me,” she says. “My favorite part about working for REC is being a part of a community that cares about nurturing new skills, talents, and hobbies.”

When asked for her most memorable REC experience, one specific swimmer stands out. Kartyr was in her second quarter of teaching lessons at UCSD when she had a young student in her class who was “very fearful of water.”

“Within a few weeks, the student was swimming independently for several yards,” Kartyr says. “It was so rewarding to see so much progress in a student in such a short amount of time! 

“I still see this student for lessons to this day.”

When she’s not working, Kartyr enjoys going for walks around San Diego and volunteering at — you guessed it — a local elementary school.

“Kartyr connects deeply with the children, parents, and staff in our youth swim classes program,” Claiborn says. “She is knowledgeable and professional with parents, fun and encouraging with small children, and an important supportive resource to the swim instructors. She manages a tremendous amount of responsibility in an often high-stress environment with tact and grace.”

“Recreation is fortunate to have a student staff member like her working on the frontlines, keeping UCSD families active, happy, and safe.”