Heritage House Childcare & Learning Center has named Erika Muecke its new director.
Mrs. Muecke will be in charge of planning and coordinating the children's activity program, maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations, overseeing the supervision of employees while actively promoting the involvement of the children and families Heritage House serves. As the director of Heritage House, Mrs. Muecke will work to develop the physical, intellectual, social, cultural, and emotional well-being of participating children.
"I am very excited to be working for a Christian organization, and I am looking forward to getting to know all of the children and their families,'' Mrs. Muecke said. "I really appreciate the trust each family puts in us to provide safe, loving care for their children. I love watching the teachers at Heritage House interacting with the children in such positive ways, as they help them learn and grow and understand the world. Heritage House is a very caring, fun environment."
Article Photos
Erika Muecke
Mrs. Muecke holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and Spanish from North Park University in Chicago. She has experience in childcare settings, preschool, Head Start and elementary school levels. Her most recent position, prior to her appointment as Heritage House director, was as the manager for a Head Start program in Minnesota that served more than a hundred children between the ages of 3 and 5.
"We welcome Erika as the new director of Heritage House,'' said David Smeltzer, Heritage Ministries executive director. "She comes to us with a strong background in both education and ministry that will help uphold and promote the vision and mission of the childcare and learning center."
A new resident to the area, Mrs. Muecke recently moved from Minnesota with her husband, Bryan, and three sons. She has been active in her previous church, serving as Sunday school superintendent, vacation Bible study director and on various Christian education ministries teams. Mrs. Muecke has also been a Special Olympics coach and involved with camp ministries. She enjoys gardening, vegetarian cooking, reading and watching hockey.
Heritage Ministries is a nonprofit, human-service organization serving the Chautauqua County region with more than 800 employees. Independent and assisted living residences for seniors are located at Heritage Village Retirement Campus in Gerry and, in the spring, these same type of services will be available at The Woodlands, A Heritage Senior Living Community in West Ellicott. Rehabilitation and skilled nursing services are provided at Heritage Village in Gerry, Heritage Park in Jamestown and Heritage Green Rehab & Skilled Nursing in Greenhurst.
Heritage Ministries also provides child care services at the Heritage House Childcare & Learning Center in Jamestown.
For more information, call 487-6800 or visit heritage1886.org.