Erica Hayes - Home Coordinator Assistant

Erica Hayes was looking for a job when she found a career at Heartspring. She started working as a paraeducator in 2006. “I was working two jobs and taking care of my children. A couple of people I knew were working at Heartspring and they told me that I should fill out an application. I filled one out and I am so happy that I got to work here.”

Erica started as a home paraeducator. “I love working with the students, teaching them, and getting to see them learn and make small and great strides toward achieving their goals.”

Erica began achieving career goals, becoming a peer mentor and assisting new employees as they transitioned in to the work environment. In 2009, Erica was promoted to a home coordinator assistant (HCA) position.

Erica’s goal is to assist in creating programs that increase the students’ independence and to improve their quality of life. She gets delight from helping to create, oversee and assist in the implementation of programs and plans for the students. When Erica sees a student progress, this reinforces her choice to work at Heartspring.

In her job as an HCA, the passion for her work is similar but it involves working with staff. “I love being able to teach staff and watch them learn and grow as I did,” she said.

Erica hopes to continue her own growth at Heartspring and become a home coordinator. She would like to utilize all that she has learned from her current supervisor.  "I think my boss is great. I have learned so much from her and I am very lucky to have her as a boss.”

At Heartspring, whether you are a student, client, or employee, if you have goals, there will be someone that can assist you in trying to achieve them.