WHO IS MS. HELEN & MR.DON?
Don & Helen Perry are the owners/operators of ACROCHEER GYMNASTICS and CHEERLEADING LLC. Both are professional members of USA Gymnastics, and USA Trampoline and Tumbling certified instructors and judges. They also received national safety certification through USA Gymnastics and USTA. They are certified in CPR and Sports safety by the American Red Cross and are validated in a sports medicine program approved by the Ohio State Board of Education. Helen and Don are certified through USA Gymnastics in the K.A.T. (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers workshop). They are always updating their education with many clinics through USA Gymnastics and attend yearly classes through USA Gymnastics National Congress and USTA Congress. Helen and Don ran a training clinic for the West Clermont PE teachers April of 2003 during their in service day. Don Perry is a certified PE Teacher and a National Tumbling Champion. Helen has worked and trained with Don for the past 13 years.
WHERE DID ACROCHEER START?
Acrocheer Gymnastics & Cheerleading started in 1988 as an after school mobile tumbling programs. In 1994 Acrocheer opened a facility in Fairfield. In 2003 Helen and Don closed down their facility in Fairfield and decided to do more mobile programs and relocated their gym March 19th 2004, inside The Laugh & Learn Discovery Center at 609 Ohio Pike, The Laugh & Learn Center is now Learning Adventures Pre-School & Child Care. Acrocheer is relocating September 17, 2006 due to the expansion of The Learning Adventures Pre-School.
FLIP FLOP GYMNASTICS was an after school tumbling program which Helen has run for the past 11 years through Merwin Elementary School. This program was for the students of Merwin Elementary although outside students participated in the program.
WHAT WAS DON’S PAST EXPERIENCE?
Don has a Bachelors degree from Ohio State and a Masters Degree form Miami University in Physical Education. He was a Health and PE Teacher for 19 years. He was a competitive gymnast for 4 yrs at OSU as well as the first athlete at Ohio State to be team Captain 3 years in a row. Don was an all American gymnast, undefeated in the Big Ten Tumbling Competition, placed 4th in the Pan-American Olympic Trials, 2nd in the National Collegiate Gymnastic Championships. Don coached Boys and Girls High School Gymnastics for 27 years at the following schools; Parkersburg High in West Virginia, Garfield High, in Hamilton, Ohio, Fairmont West High in Kettering, Ohio, Princeton High in Sharonville, Ohio, Lakota High in West Chester, Ohio. His teams won numerous Local, State, national, International invitational competitions. He was also President of the Ohio and National High School Gymnastics Coaches Association. Don was a competitive water skier in mixed doubles as well as had his own water Ski Team. Don was a competitive diver and won the Rotary Invitational in Hamilton, Ohio. He was undefeated in swimming and diving for 7 years. He coached diving for 3 years and his team was undefeated for 3 years. Don coached Tennis for 6 years. Don has been clinic director for the National cheerleaders (NCA) for 19 years. Then Acrocheer Gymnastics & Cheerleading developed.
WHAT WAS HELEN’S PAST EXPERIENCE?
Helen’s past teaching experience has been with Miami Elementary in Milford, Royal Family Center (a pre-school and beginner tumbling program), and summer classes at Batavia Elementary. She coached the Batavia youth cheerleaders in cheering and tumbling for 2 years. She has instructed many squads in tumbling throughout the greater Cincinnati area. Helen has worked with some of the Physical Education teachers in Milford, Fairfield, West Clermont, and Batavia to help train them to teach tumbling to elementary students. Helen instructed a clinic on an Inservice Day for the Fairfield Physical Education Teachers to help teach them in tumbling for their physical education classes and has also been asked to do this for West Clermont Schools. She currently helps Linda Price teach the tumbling classes during PE classes at Merwin Elementary.
ABOUT HELEN’S DAUGHTER & SON…
Helen’s daughter, Alison was a member of the Fliptwister Power Tumbling Team at Acrocheer in Fairfield. Alison was the Ohio State Champion in Trampoline and Tumbling (level 9) in 1999. Alison was the Ohio State Champion in Tumbling (level 8) and Trampoline (level 9) in 2000. She also qualified to compete in the 2000 Jr. Olympic National Championships. In 2001 Alison took 3rd place in USSA Nationals. She also qualified and competed in the Jr. Olympics in San Antonio, Texas, she placed 8th in her flight in tumbling.
Helen’s son, Josh was a member of the Fliptwister Power Tumbling Team at Acrocheer in Fairfield. Josh was the Ohio State Champion in Tumbling (level 6) and Double Mini (level 6) in 2001. Josh qualified and competed in the 2001 Jr. Olympics in San Antonio, Texas. Josh place 6th in Double Mini (level 6) and 11th in Tumbling (level 6). Josh competed in Tumbling with USSA Sports Acrobatics and took the Gold in Tumbling at the Mid-West Regionals and took the Gold Medal in the USSA National 2001 Championships in Tumbling. Josh is the 2002 Ohio State Champion in Tumbling (level 7), Double Mini (level 8), and Trampoline (level 6). He competed in the USAG Jr. Olympic Nationals 2002 and took the gold medal in trampoline (level 6). He also took the bronze medal in Tumbling ( level 7).On 4/27/03 Josh took the Gold Medal in Tumbling and Trampoline, and Silver in Double Mini Tramp in the State of Ohio. Josh also assisted Helen in classes at Merwin Elementary.
THE ACROCHEER/FLIP FLOP PHILOSOPHY & MISSION…
To teach gymnastics in a safe, fun environment while developing new skills, building self -esteem, and putting a smile on each child’s face to make them feel special.To give a positive introduction of gymnastics & physical fitness while having fun as students are learning something new.