Meet The Staff!
Coach Justin- Owner/Operator
Hello! I am Justin Thoms. My wife and I live here in Fulton with our (combined) 6 kids. I have been running Great River Gymnastics since I took over for Mr. Bob Douglas in 2016. Before that, I taught acrobatics and tumbling in Davenport, IA. I love to share my knowledge of gymnastics, acrobatics, and personal fitness to help children achieve their goals and to build healthy, active lifestyles! Our gym has grown so much since 2016 and I am thrilled to introduce our outstanding staff to you!
Certificates
USAG Meet Director Certified
USAG Managing Director Certified
Women's Competitive Coach
Safety & Risk Management
Fundamentals of Gymastics Instruction
Safe-Sport Trained
Tough Coaching or Emotional Abuse Training
Certificates
Women's Competitive Coach
Safety & Risk Management
Fundamentals of Gymastics Instruction
Safe-Sport Trained
Tough Coaching or Emotional Abuse Training
Coach Amy- Competitive Coach
Hi, I'm Amy! I have been coaching at Great River since 2017. I am a former gymnast who took many years of classes with Mr. Douglas. My husband, Jason, and I have 3 children who all enjoy staying active and playing many sports! In our free time, we enjoy staying active by running, spending time outdoors, and other family activites. I really enjoy instructing our gymnasts on building strong foundations for gymnastics and seeing the progress they make throughout the seasons!
Coach Katie- Competitive Coach
Hey, I'm Katie! I hve been doing gymnastics since I was 11 years old with Mr. Douglas! I helped coach with Bob for 2 years before going off to college. In college, I participated in club gymnastics. I have been intructing at Great River since 2017. My husband, Shane, and I have 2 kids who love spending time at the gym for gymnastics, dance, and ninja!
Certificates
Safety & Risk Management
Fundamentals of Gymastics Instruction
Safe-Sport Trained
Tough Coaching or Emotional Abuse Training
Miss Shay- Dance Instructor
Hi, I'm Shay! My husband, Josh, and I have 3 young children. I am a stay-at-home mom and a few of my favorite things are spending time with family and friends, traveling, anything to do with the outdoors, my church family, and dancing! I left my hometown of Galva, IL and moved to Morrison, IL in 2018. I am a graduate of Galva High School and Black Hawk East College.
I have always had a huge passion for dance. I loved and learned many types of dance growing up, but my favorites are tap and jazz. I started dancing at the young age of 2 years old. I competed and placed well in many talent contests. In junior high and high school, I joined my schools competitive dance team where we qualified for state many times. After I graduated, I started teaching dance at the YMCA of Kewannee, IL for 5 years. I taught ages 3 through high school and taught Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Poms. I have choreographed camp routines for Wethersfield High School and had the oppotunity to be a tryout judge. I have been teaching at Great River since 2023!
I love to teach because I love children and enjoy seeing the happiness to brings to my students. I love choreographing and helping my students reach their goals and mastering new skills. Dance is creativity, team work, and technical and personal growth, and I love sharing my skills and love for dance with children who have the same passion!
Miss Anna- Dance Instructor
Hi, I'm Anna! I started dancing when I was 5 years old at Jennifer's Dance Center. I trained in many styles such as contemporary, lyrical, ballet, pointe, jazz, and Appalachian Mountain clogging. I was also part of the Morrison Pompons squad where we competed in High Kick. Once I graduated High School, I knew I wanted to continue dancing. I attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with my Bachelors in Dance Performance.
At NIU, I trained in all styles of dance including Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Pointe, Cuban, Jazz, Circus arts, and choreography. I was able to perform in both Dall and Spring Dance concerts, working with choreographers such as Brian Enos, Rich Grund, Judy Chitwood, Sarita Smith-Childs, Marc Macaranas, Paula Frasz, and Michael Rodriguez Cintra. I was also able to produce my own semester. My favorite thing about dance is storytelling through my choreographic works! I love teaching and creating a story just to watch it come to life.I think dance has many benefits, not just within itself, but in life. I think dancers make the most well rounded people! One of my favorite quotes is by Mikhail Baryshnikov: "When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for a minute, and I'll tell you who you are."
Miss Linda- Dance Instructor
Miss Linda discovered ballet as a child growing up in Clinton, where she began her early training. As a teen, she continued her studies in Chicago and New York City. In Chicago, she studied at Allegro Chool and Stone Camryn; in New York, at Ballet Theatre (now American Ballet Theatre,) and Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a private student of Marie Swoboda. She studdied Jazz with Gus Giordano in Chicago and Buzz Cooper in New York. More recently, she has studdied with Master Karlov Zsedenvi, presently teaching in New York, Robert Barnett of the Atlanta Ballet, Fred Matthews of New York City, and Lynn Taylor-Corbett. In 1981, as a member of the Quad City Civic Ballet Company, she created the role of Queen of the Night in its production of The Blue Bird. She was Artistic Director of the Quad City Company unstil she assumed the same position with Gateway Contemporary Ballet when it was founded in 1983. Miss Linda still teaches at her studio in Clinton, IA, but graciously joins us at Great River once a week for classes as well!
Amanda- Office Manager
Hey! I'm Amanda Thoms. I started working at GRG in 2022, but I have been around the gym since 2018. We love to see our kids (and everyone elses!) stay active and involved. I learn more every day about dance and gymnastics both, thanks to our awesome instructors. I am so lucky to have a role that allows me to see the smiles on each kids face every day, as well as help out when someone is having a bit of a bad day. You might find me behind the desk, watching (and sometimes filling in) in our dance rooms, or coaching and cheering on our awesome gymansts! I look forward to seeing you in the gym!
Certificates
Women's Competitive Coach
Safety & Risk Management
Fundamentals of Gymastics Instruction
Safe-Sport Trained
Tough Coaching or Emotional Abuse Training
Miss Lex- Gymnastics Instructor
Hey! I'm Lex! I have been with GRG for...many years! Gymnastics is my favorite sport and I am so glad to have the gym as my second home. I started competing gymnastics in 2019 and plan to continue through high school! I also love taking Hip Hop with Great River Dance! I started assistant coaching in 2024 and have loved every minute of it. I am excited to have the chance to help coach another group of great kids and help them develop their skills and love for my favorite sport!
Miss Nicole- Gymnastics Instructor
Hello, I'm Nicole! I joined the GRG family in 2017 as a gymnast and tumbled until 2022. I have always wished I started tumbling sooner so I'm thrilled to have this oportunity to make up for that by coaching now! I'm also currently pursuing my degree to become an Elemenarty Education teacher and am enjoying gaining experience working with children in many areas outside of the classroom, the gym being one of those areas! When I'm not working one of my three jobs, you can find me volunteering all over the community, especially at Fulton High School as I am a proud Steamer Alum!
Miss Brooklyn- Gymnastics Instructor
Hi I'm Brooklyn! I have been doing gymnastics as long as I can remember. I have always loved dancing and gymnastics, along with many other sports. Physical fitness and mental health are very important to me, and I strive to help the younger generation learn how to listen and care for their bodies! I competed with GRG and went to Regionals in 2019. Watching other kids learn the sport that helped me grow into who I am today is such a fun thing! I love getting to help the gymnasts find what they are capable of!
Miss Joey- Gymnastics Instructor
Hi, I'm Joey! I have been teaching at Great River since 2023. I am now filling in, while I explore other opportunities. I spent my whole childhood doing tumbling, cheer, and gymnastics! I love teaching and seeing everyone improve each week. My fiance and I have 3 dogs who like to keep us very busy. In my free time, I enjoy golfing, camping, and walking my dogs. I hope I see you in the gym!