Because academics are an important component in the life of every resident, Heartlight offers two opportunities for educational pursuits. Residents in Heartlight's main program attend Hallsville High School, a 4-A school located three miles from Heartlight. For students who need a more structured setting, Heartlight East and Heartlight South provide on-site schooling, utilizing a Texas Tech correspondence curriculum taught by certified teachers on staff. Close attention is given to insure that all time spent in studies receives full credit and is transferable back to a resident's home school. The East and South residences are located on the Heartlight property.

	Debra Fetherlin, Academic Coordinator This is Deb's second time around with Heartlight and has been the Academic Coordinator since July 2007. After living in house at South she returns to us married to Dave Fetherlin (who will soon be the new Academic Coordinator when their baby arrives in July). Deb has spent time teaching in the classroom in Colorado Springs and working alongside her husband with their church youth group. Deb obtained her Social Studies Education degree from Asbury College in Wilmore, KY. Deb's passion to encourage teenagers to pursue a better life for themselves enables her to challenge and stretch their character as they grow into the young adults they desire to be.
	Tina DeLange is originally from Lone Star, Texas. She attended Baylor University and The University of Texas at Tyler where she received a B.B.A. in Management and minored in Mathematics. Tina is currently pursuing her MBA at UT Tyler. Prior to working at Heartlight, Tina taught in the public school system for 9 years. She specializes in teaching the different levels of high school math for our students. She enjoys working on crafts and yard work. TIna hopes to encourage the students she works with to get their lives back on the right path and develop a relationship with Christ.
	Jane Fidler is originally from East Aurora, New York. She attended State University of New York at Buffalo where she received a B.A in Secondary English and a Masters in Reading K-12. Jane has had 12 years experience with teaching in the public schools located in New York as well as Texas. At Heartlight she is the English and History teacher for South and East houses. In her free time Jane enjoys reading, writing and photography. She is motivated to help children succeed.
	Sharon O’Quinn is from Hallsville and has lived here in this area for many years. She attended East Texas Baptist University where she earned her degree in Education. Before coming to work at Heartlight, Sharon was a full-time homemaker, keeping up with her four kids ages 12, 8, 5, and 4. She is an active member of her church and has worked with youth in the church’s youth group program. Sharon’s desire to see students learn, her compassion, and willingness to learn make her a wonderful addition to our teaching staff. Some of Sharon’s pastimes include sewing, baking and camping.