SACC Lead Teacher ~ Tara Miles
Hello, my name is Tara Miles. I was born and raised in New York, starting out in Brooklyn and then moving to the beautiful Hudson Valley with my family when I was nine, where I lived until 2004. I attended Ramapo College of New Jersey and received my B.A in Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology. Following my graduation from college, I worked in NYC as a field technician taking air quality samples and then as an Environmental Health and Safety Specialist for a pharmaceutical company until I met my husband, a Marine Corps Officer and Pilot.
I met my husband, Charlie, in 2002 and following his tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, we were married in 2004, after which he immediately dragged me, crying, to Kansas City, which actually turned out to be a wonderful place to live and work. While living in KC, I worked as an Education Facilitator at the Kansas City Zoo, which included working with school groups, talking to visitors about the animals, conservation and working with the animals. After our tour was over in KC, we had the great opportunity to move to Okinawa, Japan for almost three years. While in Okinawa, I worked as a substitute teacher in the middle school and loved every minute of it. It was there that I decided that I wanted to become a teacher. My love of teaching was further reinforced after visiting Cambodia and Thailand where I saw first-hand the difference education makes in the lives of children and communities. In 2010, my husband moved me once again, back to NY! While in NY, I completed my Masters of Science in Education with a Dual in Special Education. I received my NYS teaching certification in September of 2012 and will soon be awarded my certification in Special Education as well.
Living in NY allowed me to be closer to my brother, two sisters and nieces, but it did not last long as my husband retired from the Marine Corps in 2012 and took a position in the civilian world working for a defense contractor in Herndon, Va. With our son, Evan, and two dogs, we are eagerly awaiting the completion of a new home in Ashburn, VA.
As for hobbies, I am an avid bicyclist, enjoy traveling, and love photography. Once again, I am very excited about becoming a part of the VGDS family and I am looking forward to getting to know you and your children.