Kara Altman is in her fourth season leading the cheerleading program at Gilmour Academy during the 2021-22 school year. She oversees the Lancer cheerleading teams for both football and basketball seasons.

Coaching cheerleading is in Altman’s blood as she is a third-generation cheerleading coach in her family. Prior to Gilmour, Altman was an assistant cheerleading coach for two years at Chardon High School under her mother, Missi. Altman’s grandfather, Tim Mathis, had served as the head coach at Chardon prior to her mother, having started the Hilltopper program in 1992.

Altman has spent multiple summers traveling the east coast, from Vermont to South Carolina, to coach cheerleading camps—teaching the basics of the sport, the proper way to jump and tumble as well as helping with choreographing competition routines for the season.

Altman was a competitive all-star cheerleader for 13 years, during which time she competed in some of the highest-ranking competitions in the country. She cheered in each of her four years as a student at Chardon.

Away from Gilmour, Altman is employed as a hair stylist at Oscar Giovanni Salon and Spa.