SALEM — When his teacher in the learning skills program at Salem High School first asked Eric Chouinard what he would like to pursue for a career, his response was immediate and unwavering — he wanted to be a custodian.
That was five years ago.
In less than a month, Chouinard will achieve that goal. He has a full-time job as a custodian waiting for him at the Peabody Essex Museum when he graduates from Salem High.
Chouinard's path to success was paved by his own hard work, but with the help of many people along the way. Those supporters include everyone from teachers and school custodians, to his caseworker at Goodwill's job training facility in Salem, to his supervisors at the Peabody Essex Museum.
"I'm really happy," said Chouinard, who got an internship at the museum last year that propelled him into a part-time job there, and now the promise of a full-time position.
"Eric had a dream of becoming a custodian," said Linda Bosse, a Salem High special education teacher who taught Chouinard from 2005 to 2009.
"He had this dream, and he just kept to it," she said. "He worked hard at it. He didn't let it out of his reach. ... It's really a success story."
Chouinard's accomplishments culminated in a trip to Washington, D.C., last week where he spoke in front of hundreds of people at a reception that was part of Goodwill Industries International's fourth Advocacy Day, titled "Invest in the American Worker."
Chouinard traveled there with his caseworker, Julie Armstrong of Salem, who provided Chouinard with job training as part of Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries' School-to-Work Program in Salem.
"I talked about my job and how Goodwill helped me with getting the job," Chouinard said of his speech. "I was a little nervous."
"He did a really good job," Armstrong said.
Congressman John Tierney of Salem was at the reception, where he received the Goodwill National Policymaker Award for 2010 and was recognized for helping both veterans and people with disabilities integrate into the work force. Chouinard said the congressman had a few kind words for him, too.
"He said I was like a rock star, and he liked my speech," Chouinard recalled with a smile.
Path to employment
Chouinard, who is developmentally disabled, went through the Salem Public Schools, starting high school in 2004.
He was enrolled in the learning skills program at the high school, and he is now in the Post High Transition Program for special education students ages 18 to 22 who are focusing on functional life skills and job training. Chouinard is set to graduate on June 4.
"He is just a joy for the staff to work with," Salem High Principal David Angeramo said, "and he has been such a nice influence on his peers."
Bosse, one of Chouinard's teachers, said when Chouinard first expressed an interest in custodial work, she approached the district facilities director Paul L'Heureux. He helped coordinate a unique situation in which Chouinard worked as an intern under head custodian Victor Theriault and earned course credit.
"I like to clean," said Chouinard, 21, who lives in Salem with his mother, Laurie, and sister, Nicole. "I like to take out the trash, I like to sweep, I like to vacuum, I like to clean glass — I just love the work."
He worked throughout the school, and even interned with the custodial staff at Collins Middle School in the summer.
"Eric worked with our building services ... and he did an outstanding job," Angeramo said.
"He's known by everyone at Salem High School, and he's well-liked," Bosse said.
Armstrong, who works at Goodwill's job training facility at Shetland Park in Salem, helped Chouinard with job-training skills, such as how to write a ré©sumé©, how to collect references and how to interview.
Together, they found a listing in the newspaper for an eight-week internship program at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Bob Monk, director of facilities and security at the museum, said Chouinard made an immediate impression on him when he interviewed last spring.
"The training he got at school served him well, and he was quite amazing when he came in for his interview," Monk said. "I said, 'What do you really want to do?' and he said, 'I love to clean.'
"It was like hearing the voice of an angel to me," Monk said with a laugh.
Monk said Chouinard had solid letters of reference and was enthusiastic.
"He fit right in from day one," Monk said, "and now he's been here just a year."
Armstrong, who has worked with Chouinard for five years and is set to retire in three weeks, said Chouinard's story highlights a network of support that helped a determined young man flourish.
"This is great for Salem," she said.
Chouinard said he couldn't be happier.
"It's fun to get the paycheck," he said, "but I like the work the most."
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Staff writer Amanda McGregor can be reached at amcgregor@salemnews.com.
