About Us
Get to know us so we can get to know you.
Our Mission Statement
We realize that from the earliest years of every child’s life success is achieved through physical activities. The mission of Texas East Kids is for all participants to gain enhanced self-worth, self-confidence, and an “I can” attitude. Our students are faced with physical and mental challenges in the safe environment of the gym, and they find solutions by learning new and exciting skills. As our athletes progress through our level system, we are happy for their respective accomplishments, but even more proud that we foster the ability in each person to say “I CAN!”
Our Amazing Staff
Get to know us.
At Texas East Kids we strive to build a staff of coaches and teachers who are not only outstanding at their job but are also outstanding people. We want to ensure that in addition to robust academic and athletic lessons every child is encouraged and celebrated.
Our Great Facilities
Learn what makes our facilities safe and fun!
Whether your kids love spending time on the pitch or the beam, we have the facilities to help your children thrive at the activities they love doing. Click below to see exactly what makes Texas East Kids facilities stand out from the rest!
Our History
Texas East Gymnastics was established in 1969 under the name Cherokee Gym by Dwight and Kathy Parsley. The first gym was located in a house in Jacksonville on the corner of Cherokee Street and Hwy. 69. Kathy taught twirling and gymnastics in the house and even had a high beam in the entryway.
It was such a snug fit that when you held your arms out to the side you touched the walls! One day while Dwight was teaching boys gymnastics, Martin did a back handspring through a window, this was the day they decided to look for a bigger place.
After outgrowing the house, a 10,000 square foot gymnasium was built. This space was state of the art for 1975 in Jacksonville, Texas. There was a workout facility, equipment for girls’ and boys’ gymnastics, a dance floor with mirrors, and even a fitness room for adult workout classes with machines and free weights.
Over the next several years that gym continued to expand to meet the needs of the growing clientele. Kathy, always thinking and looking ahead, saw Tyler as the next place to grow and Dwight said, “let’s go.” In 1990, under Martin’s leadership Cherokee Gym, now newly named Texas East Gymnastics, opened in a Tyler shopping strip near UT Tyler.
Shortly after opening the growing enrollment and successful students meant it was time to build again so 1937 Deerbrook Dr. became the new home for Texas East Gymnastics. Interest and opportunity led to a second gymnasium across the street.
Today, east Texas continues to count on Texas East Gymnastics to instill an “I Can” attitude within every child. TEG coaches know that gymnastics is but a vehicle to pass along life lessons of goal setting, always trying again and the habit of keeping kids moving. The mission and heart of Kathy and Dwight live on through Martin, Marlynne and Stacy who work daily to live out their vision.
About Texas East Gymnastics
Learn more about our gymnastics programs!
Whether they’re just starting out or just getting serious, we love to challenge our gymnasts through physical and mental exercises in the safety of our gym. Through each lesson, our students learn how to grow, improve, and become athletes that can access their fullest potential both in and out of the gym.