Her Story
About Erin
I manage TACT Staff's education division, specializing in special education staffing, where I'm raising up a team of people who understand the why and whose personal values align with making an impact. We source and place educators and clinicians who work primarily in K-12 public schools, addressing a critical gap of about 400,000 unfilled positions across the United States for children who by law need and deserve these therapies. This work is very personal to me because my husband's son is on the spectrum, and I've seen the impact not just in my own blended family but in the families we serve. I can't imagine sending your child into school knowing they need a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist and not being able to get those services. Our role truly is to help these children manifest their best potential in life. By placing one educator or clinician into one classroom or opportunity to provide services, the impact goes far and wide into households and communities. My stepson is graduating college when they didn't think he would get out of high school, because the therapists and educators came alongside him throughout his life and gave him the tools he needs. As a director, I bring in top talent, put together strategic plans, train and raise up the organization from a place of consultation, partnership, and deep relational support for school districts that are overwhelmed. I also hope to build awareness at high schools and universities about the opportunities in this field, including the ability to travel and potentially double your income compared to staying close to home.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Erin
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them that the work that you're doing matters, and that if it were easy, everybody would do it. It's not for everyone, but if you've got a calling, trust that calling. I would encourage them all to have a mentor - not all districts have the opportunity because they're just spread so thin, so I would advise them to stay close to your universities and colleges and ask who was your mentor. I would also tell them the hard truth that one of our top recruiters, who has a master's in ABA and was a special education teacher, was told when she went into school that only 20% of you are going to make it because it's hard. But they were right, and she thought she was going to make it. I would say that they will, at some point in time, need to utilize the school counselor or the school psychologist or bring in their own therapists. It is hard when you're dealing with littles who are coming in with challenging home lives and big caseloads - it's a heavy lift. They need to find time for themselves and their self-care, whatever that looks like, because at some point they're going to need someone to talk them through. But the work matters, because you're not just impacting your classroom or the kiddos on your caseload - you are changing their families and their communities. Their families may not be able to know who you are or have the opportunity to thank you, but trust me when I tell you, you are an answered prayer for some of these families. But if it was easy, everybody would do it.
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