Tara has a diverse background in both education and the outdoors and is excited to bring her love of teaching to the classroom at The Learning Habitat.

Tara earned her undergraduate degree from Presbyterian College, where she double-majored in Psychology and Religion/Philosophy. After graduation, she ventured west to work in Glacier National Park, deepening her appreciation for nature and adventure. Her passion for the outdoors led her to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, an experience that inspired her next chapter: teaching in outdoor education. She spent several years leading classes and managing staff at The Outdoor School in the Texas Hill Country, where she discovered her love for teaching and mentoring young learners.

Motivated to bring her teaching into the classroom, Tara moved to New York City to teach 3rd grade with the NYC Department of Education, while earning her Master’s Degree in Childhood Education from Brooklyn College. Later, Tara relocated to Nashville, TN, where she continued teaching, this time in both 4th and 2nd grade classrooms. After taking a few years to focus on raising her two children, she returned to education as a preschool teacher, working with 3-year-olds and rediscovering the joy of early childhood learning.

Tara and her husband live in Matthews with their two children, ages 11 and 9, and have a lively household that includes two dogs, two cats, and a bearded dragon. As a family, they love travelling and spending time outdoors—hiking, camping, and exploring nature.