My name is Tara Brand. Below I have detailed my working experience and qualifications. 

Over 10 years of teaching experience 

• Special education teacher coach 

• Special education preschool teacher 

• General education preschool teacher 

Qualifications and Certifications 

• Master’s from the University of Denver in Early Childhood Special Education

• Bachelor’s from Colorado State University in Human Development and Family Studies, with a focus on Early Childhood Education 

• Certified coach for the Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment (TPBA) 

  • This is often the evaluation tool used in early childhood to determine if a child qualifies for special education 

• Trained in the Neurosequential-Model for Education (NME) 

  • This tool trains school staff on how to support students based on knowledge of brain development and how trauma can impact student success while at school 

• Used Teaching Strategies Gold as both a general education teacher and a special education teacher 

  • This tool is used to evaluate students in early childhood programs and is often used as part of the body of evidence during evaluations 

I developed a passion for early childhood education during volunteer work in high school. It was my first time experiencing an inclusive classroom, and it became my goal to be a preschool special education teacher. I have always loved the curiosity and excitement kids have during this time, and am constantly amazed by how much development occurs. My eagerness to specialize in special education came from wanting to understand how learning happens and how to support every child to be successful. My goal with Parent Voice is to aid parents during the special education process so they feel confident that their child is getting the support they need.