With over 20 years of classroom experience, this veteran educator turned stay-at-home mom joined the Houston County school board in 2024, bringing her unique perspective as both a teacher and parent of six children to advocate for students, families, and educators! She recently was appointed to serve as AASB's District 3 Director.

Read below to learn more about Tara Singley

Q: What is your current occupation?

A: I am a veteran teacher with over 20 years of experience in the classroom, teaching grades 1st through 6th. I stepped away from education five years ago to become a stay-at-home mom and focus on raising our special needs adopted children.

Q: How long have you been on the school board, and what inspired you to join?

A: I joined the Houston County School Board in 2024 after advocating for my own children and recognizing the broader needs within our school system. That experience inspired me to step up and be a voice for students, families, and educators.

Q: What excites you most about being a school board member?

A: I'm most excited about encouraging and supporting our educators and staff as they continue striving for excellence. As a veteran teacher, I understand what it's like to be on the front lines with students every day, and I take great pride in being able to support those who do that important work.

Q: What’s one key thing you’ve learned since becoming a board member?

A: I've learned that there's far more happening behind the scenes than most people realize. Running an entire school system is a complex process with many moving parts that must work together seamlessly for our students to succeed.

Q: Are there any special initiatives or projects you are particularly proud of accomplishing with your board? Anything you’re looking forward to working on with them?

A: I'm especially proud of our progress in expanding access to ABA therapy within our schools. We've gone from having no Registered Behavioral Therapists to placing them in individual schools, and we recently approved the hiring of a BCBA to oversee this work. This initiative will help train even more staff in Applied Behavior Analysis and better support students with behavioral and developmental needs.

Q: What is one piece of advice would you share with an incoming board member?

A: It's perfectly normal to feel nervous or unsure at first. Don't hesitate to ask questions, lots of them. The decisions we make have a direct impact on the future of our students, and there's truly no such thing as too many questions when it comes to getting it right.

Q: What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of your role as a board member?

A: My family loves camping and spending time with our group of camping friends. We enjoy roller coasters, water parks, resorts, and just about anywhere we can park our camper and make memories together.

Q: Finish the sentence. One thing you should know about me is…

A: When I was growing up, all I ever wanted to be was a mama and a teacher. Teaching came naturally, and my classroom quickly became my home away from home. As a biological and adoptive mom of six, my lifelong dream became reality. When the time came for my children to need me more at home, that's exactly where I went. During my first year away from the classroom, I became a room mom for my son's kindergarten class. The next year, I joined the PTO. By the third year, I was serving as PTO president and by the fourth, I was running for school board. I guess you could say I just couldn't stay away from the school for long!

Q: What is your favorite inspirational quote or mantra that keeps you motivated?

A: "Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be." Rita Pierson

View Spotlight Archive