My name is Tara Brand. Two fun facts about me - I am a Colorado native and winter is my favorite season.

In high school, I was fortunate to volunteer in an inclusive preschool classroom, and I knew that was what I wanted for my career. In the weeks that I worked in that classroom I was in awe of the teachers, and impressed by the life experiences the kids got from learning to work together and support all of their classmates. I became so excited by the differentiated planning for all students and was hooked.

I graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies, with a focus on Early Childhood Education. From there, I started my teaching career. I taught a general education preschool classroom for four years, while working on my Master’s degree. I then graduated from the University of Denver with my Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education.

My special education career was in preschool, while also supporting Kindergarten transitions. After seven years, I decided to stay home with my own kids and focus on my family. During this time, I thought about how I would do things differently if I went back to teaching, and the main thought that kept coming back was communication. The hustle and bustle of a classroom makes the days and months go by fast. I know that I could have done a better job with communication and supporting families, but I also know that was a constant struggle in the education world. So Parent Voice was formed.

I want to support families navigating the special education world. Do you have general questions about the process? Are you concerned about where to go next? Do you want to feel confident in an IEP meeting and need support getting ready and prepared? Anything I can do to help, I am here! Please reach out with any questions. I am excited to meet you and find out how I can support your next steps for success!