Employee Testimonials - Coordinator of Outreach Programs

Kristina Baker

Kristina Baker & Tian Huiping (Hope) Kristina Baker has been at Heartspring since April of 2003. She started as an Admissions Specialist, worked for a year as a Marketing Associate and in February of 2007 she was named the Coordinator of Outreach Programs. It is through this position that Kristina has become involved in our World Reach Program.

As coordinator of outreach programs, Kristina has shared in many of the inspirational moments and met many people who have had an effect on her through the World Reach program. “Of course two inspiring women to me are the ladies who started our sister schools in New Delhi, India and Beijing, China. They are Merry Barua from India and Tian Huiping (Hope) from China. They both are amazing women who inspire hope in the lives of others. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to have spent time with each of them. Both of these women had boys with autism 20+ years ago in India and China, where there was virtually nothing available to their children....no education, no resources, no information. Their stories of surviving this time and then wanting to help other children and families in their countries are truly remarkable.”

Kristina clearly has a passion for the World Reach program. “World Reach helps educate and connect others. Just in the last few weeks while having the teachers from India and China here, they each stated how wonderful it was to be here where they could meet each other and learn with each other. It has helped them to see that while they may not have some of the resources that Heartspring has, they can implement many of the same ideas. They went home with tangible resources, books, visual aids, pictures, and pages and pages of notes to share with all of their colleagues back home. In this way, Heartspring has just impacted the lives of hundreds of staff in India and China and therefore impacted hundreds of lives of children with autism and their families.” Pictured: Preeti, Lily, Jayati, Kristina and Lion in the MSE room.

Gary Singleton, President and CEO of Heartspring, says that Kristina has been a tremendous ambassador for World Reach. “Kristina does a wonderful job of arranging all of the details involved in having these people over. For the entire three weeks that the visitors are here she gives up much of her own personal and family time to ensure our visitors are having a good time. They leave thinking Americans are wonderful! We really appreciate the commitment and passion Kristina puts into the program.”

Kristina shared a very powerful truth that she has learned by spending time with these educators from other countries. “No matter what country someone is from, people who have a heart for helping children with special needs are all united by this common goal. It is really interesting to see how no matter where someone is from, where they live, what language they speak, when they are helping a child live to become more independent, they have this passion. It unites all individuals. It is empowering. I love this part of my job.”

Content published November, 2008.

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