Tara brings a unique background to teaching science, having previously worked in botany and natural resource management with the National Park Service. This experience fostered a deep appreciation for the natural world that she shares with her students. Driven by a desire for deeper community engagement, Tara pursued a lifelong passion for education. In her classes, students engage in a challenging yet supportive learning environment where they apply conceptual knowledge and develop new skills through complex, hands-on projects. Her students have built mini Mars rovers integrating electricity and engineering, designed stained-glass panels illustrating the principles of light and optics, and explored the intricacies of human immunity. Beyond the classroom, Tara is deeply committed to fostering student futures. Over the past four years, she has provided extensive college advisory support, including semiweekly meetings and organizing college visits, resulting in impressive college enrollment outcomes for the students she has mentored. Her passion lies in making STEM accessible and exciting for all learners and empowering students to achieve their post-secondary goals.