Ms. Hayden

Ms. Hayden

Grafton Infant Toddler Lead

My name is Hayden, and I’ve been working at OCC since June of 2018 (which feels both like yesterday and also a lifetime ago in daycare years 😅). Before starting here, I spent a year in college trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. My mom, Lisa Clarke, suggested I try working at OCC to see if it might be a good fit—and I’m so glad I took her advice! Years later, I’m still here and truly love what I do. I started at OCC as a floater, which meant I got a little taste of everything. Pretty quickly, I realized I had a soft spot for the babies—something about the cuddles, tiny milestones, and even the chaos just clicked for me. After a couple of years, I moved into the two-year-old room as a co-teacher, and later became the lead teacher in the older twos classroom. I absolutely loved that age (so much personality packed into such tiny humans!), but I found myself missing the babies. When the opportunity came up, I happily made my way back and eventually became the lead teacher in the infant/toddler room, right where I feel most at home!

I don’t have kids of my own yet, but I like to say I get my fill every day at work! I’ve learned so much over the years, and there’s truly never a boring day. Between the hilarious things kids say, the big (and small!) milestones, and the constant movement, this job keeps me on my toes. One minute I’m celebrating a first step, and the next I’m cleaning up something mysterious off the floor—it’s all part of the fun! The best part, though, is the relationships. The kids, the families, and the staff make OCC feel like a second home. There are plenty of days where I’m laughing so hard I’m crying, and that’s something really special.

Outside of work, I love spending time with friends and family, relaxing, reading, traveling, and just enjoying life when I’m not in full “teacher mode.” I definitely appreciate a good, quiet moment…which makes coming back to a room full of busy little ones even more entertaining!