Tara Brandt
Newport
Summary
Dynamic and dedicated professional eager to leverage expertise and enthusiasm as a collaborative team member in a mission-driven environment. Proven experience in both in-person and virtual settings underscores a commitment to fostering success, growth, and well-being for all stakeholders. Passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of others, with a strong focus on delivering results that enhance overall team performance. Prepared to contribute to a culture of excellence and innovation.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Family Coach
Agora Cyber Charter School
08.2015 - 12.2025
- Serve as the primary point of contact with families
- Create and maintain effective relationships with student and families
- Maintain open communication with students and families through phone call, text, email and virtual meetings
- Assist students and families with school systems, programs and procedures
- Respond to family concerns
- Motivate students to achieve and engage in class
- Maintain records according to school policy and state and federal law and use records as a basis for service delivery planning and improvement
- Act as an advocate for the school’s policies, procedures and programs
- Travel within geographical area to serve students and families
- Display the necessary standards of honesty, integrity and confidentiality
- Provide technical support via phone or Microsoft Quick Assist
- Monitor the progress and performance of students
- Collaborate with students and families to create and implement intervention strategies to address attendance and performance barriers
- Develop awareness and understanding of Special Education policies and procedures to assist families with IEP and/or 504 plan development
Preschool Teacher/Center Director
Hildebrandt Learning Center
08.2002 - 08.2015
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students
- Observe and evaluate children’s performance, behavior, social development and physical health
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students’ varying needs and interests
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question and investigate
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors and administrators to resolve students’ behavioral and academic challenges
- Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks
- Create and implement lesson plans
- Instruct new employees in daily activities and computer software programs
- Create and implement staff schedules
- Organize and manage budgets to ensure a consistently positive profit-and-loss (P&L) statement
- Evaluate students and conduct parent-teacher conferences
- Organize and monitor student field trips
- Maintain accurate enrollment reports
Long-term Substitute Second and Fourth Grades
Upper Dauphin Area School District
08.2001 - 06.2002
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students
- Observe and evaluate children’s performance, behavior, social development and physical health
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students’ varying needs and interests
- Demonstrate activities to children
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question and investigate
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors and administrators to resolve students’ behavioral and academic challenges
- Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks
- Create and implement lesson plans
- Evaluate student performance and generate report cards
- Evaluate students and conduct parent-teacher conferences
- Organize and monitor student field trips
Long-term Substitute First and Second Grades
Halifax Area School District
11.1997 - 06.2000
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students
- Observe and evaluate children’s performance, behavior, social development and physical health
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students’ varying needs and interests
- Demonstrate activities to children
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question and investigate
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors and administrators to resolve students’ behavioral and academic challenges
- Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks
- Create and implement lesson plans
- Evaluate student performance and generate report cards
- Evaluate students and conduct parent-teacher conferences
- Organize and monitor student field trips
- Participate in team teaching activities
Substitute Teacher
Halifax Area School District, Millersburg Area School District, Upper Dauphin Area School District
05.1995 - 01.2000
- Related Experiences
- Halifax Area School District, Halifax, PA June-August 1999/June-August 2000
- Summer Reading Teacher
- “Read to Succeed” Program
Education
Director Credential -
Keystone College
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Penn State University
Middletown, PAAssociate of Arts - Education-Teaching
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, PAHigh School Diploma -
Upper Dauphin Area High School
Elizabethville, PASkills
Strong interpersonal skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
Meticulous attention to detail
Proficient in written and oral communication
Effective problem-solving abilities
Adaptable and resilient
Effective task organization
Strong technical proficiency
Supportive team collaborator
Timeline
Family Coach
Agora Cyber Charter School
08.2015 - 12.2025
Preschool Teacher/Center Director
Hildebrandt Learning Center
08.2002 - 08.2015
Long-term Substitute Second and Fourth Grades
Upper Dauphin Area School District
08.2001 - 06.2002
Long-term Substitute First and Second Grades
Halifax Area School District
11.1997 - 06.2000
Substitute Teacher
Halifax Area School District, Millersburg Area School District, Upper Dauphin Area School District
05.1995 - 01.2000
Director Credential -
Keystone College
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Penn State University
Associate of Arts - Education-Teaching
Harrisburg Area Community College
High School Diploma -
Upper Dauphin Area High School
Summary of Qualifications
- Over twenty-five years of solid experience
- Profound knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Proficiency at talking to others to convey information effectively
- Demonstrate ability to interact and communicate effectively with both children and adults
- Demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to prioritize and manage competing priorities
- Remarkable ability to build good working relationships with both children and adults. This includes being able to give respect and understanding to all children and families, whatever their cultural background
- Sincere interest and joy in working with children and families
- Sound knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality and interests; learning and motivation
- Expertise at selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things
- In-depth ability to monitor/assess performance of self, other individuals or organizations to make improvements or take corrective actions