TARA FRIES
Alamogordo,NM
Summary
Focused Educational Services Specialist with 3 years of success guiding students on academic and career decisions. Skilled at counseling students on methods for forging relationships and helping students navigate school life. Driven to support long-term goal achievement by linking students to outside resources to enhance education and career prospects.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Education Service Specialist
Holloman AFB Education Center
07.2024 - Current
- Counseled members regarding educational issues including course selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, career decisions, and other academic/ vocational concerns
- Developed in-person briefings and outreach programs to increase students' knowledge and competence of educational programs such as Tuition Assistance, AF COOL, SkillBridge, Commissioning, and GI Bill
- Evaluated members’ abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using Career Path Decide assessment, personal records, interviews, or professional sources
- Provided students with information on topics such as college degree programs, admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs
- Served as technical expert on a variety of Voluntary Education programs, including CCAF, Tuition Assistance, SkillBridge, and GI Bill
- Trained two new hires in the Holloman Education and Training Center.
Education Services Specialist
Travis AFB Education Center
01.2023 - 06.2024
- Counseled members regarding educational issues including course selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, career decisions, and other academic/ vocational concerns
- Presented briefings and conducted discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence of educational programs such as Tuition Assistance, SkillBridge, Commissioning, and Higher Education Track
- Evaluated members’ abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using Career Path Decide assessment, personal records, interviews, or professional sources
- Provided students with information on topics such as college degree programs, admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs
- Served as technical expert on a variety of Voluntary Education programs
- Participated in conferences, seminars, and training sessions to keep abreast of developments in the field and integrated relevant information into training programs.
Education Services Technician
Travis Air Force Base Education Center
04.2022 - 01.2023
- Advises personnel on career and academic goals by providing basic information concerning colleges and universities, testing, other methods of credit development, and alternative educational and training opportunities
- Assists qualified personnel on Air Force Tuition Assistance procedures
- Updates, inquires, and processes actions through the Personnel Data System
- Serves as a customer service representative fielding calls for multiple phone lines and responding to emails in org box
- Performs routine and miscellaneous clerical work to include processing incoming mail, maintaining files and posting updates as necessary, and preparing/maintaining office forms of various types
- Uses varied and advanced functions of office automation software to create, format, modify, edit, and print a variety of letters, reports, memos, and other textual documents
- Manages the marketing slides and flyers of Education Center events and briefings.
Reference Librarian
Kadena Air Force Base Library
01.2020 - 03.2021
- Served as Reference Librarian responsible for assisting with all reference needs
- Planned and presented weekly/monthly programs for all ages: Mother Goose, Toddler Time, Afterschool Movie Club, Adult Book Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Roastmaster’s
- Scheduled and represented the library at briefings and outreach events across base to include: Newcomer’s Welcome, First Term Airmen Course, Airman Leadership School, and local school visits
- Managed the marketing of all library programs, events and closures with the base marketing office and updated the Kadena Library social media accounts
- Recruited, trained and supervised 5 long-term library volunteers in leading recreational programs at the library
- Assisted patrons by creating accounts, providing circulation services, updating account information, and providing exceptional customer service for all patrons
- Created monthly order lists for the acquisition of print materials.
Library Media Specialist
Lincoln North Star High School
08.2007 - 06.2010
- Responsible for the daily operation of 20k volume library media center that served a population of over 2k students and staff
- Served as Library Chair on Curriculum Steering Committee
- Supervised 4 library staff members: 1 additional media specialist, 2 library technicians, 1 audio-visual technician
- Exercised full supervisory authority: planned, scheduled, coordinated and guided the work of library staff
- Formulated yearly budget to cover acquisition of all books, electronic resources, periodicals and technology
- Collaborated with faculty to integrate information literacy skills and technology into the curriculum
- Developed a 2-day freshmen library course with teachers to introduce library skills to all English 9 students.
High School English Teacher
Dodge City High School
08.2002 - 05.2004
- Planned and delivered daily lessons and lectures for assigned classes
- Developed teaching materials, such as handouts, study materials, and quizzes and exams for unit lessons
- Identified, developed, and implemented intervention strategies and individualized education plans (IEPs) for students
- Managed records of students' assessments, progress, and feedback while maintaining confidentiality of all records
- Communicated students' progress to students, parents or teachers in written progress reports, in person, by phone, and by email.
Education
Master's Degree - Secondary Education - Library Science concentration
University of Nebraska – Omaha
08.2007
Bachelor's Degree - English - Secondary Education concentration
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
05.2002
Skills
- Staff Oversight
- Meetings and presentations
- Program coordination
- Meeting facilitation
- Collaborative mindset
- Database Management
- Customer Service
- Appointment Scheduling
- Developing presentations
- Schedule Management
- Academic Counseling
- Resource Identification
- Career guidance
Clearance
Secret Security Clearance
Job Related Training
- CCAF Advisor Training - February 2023
- 4 Lenses Training - July 2022
Awards
- Quarterly Award: Civilian Category II – June 2024
- Quarterly Award: Civilian Category I - Sept 2022
Timeline
Deputy Education Service Specialist
Holloman AFB Education Center
07.2024 - Current
Education Services Specialist
Travis AFB Education Center
01.2023 - 06.2024
Education Services Technician
Travis Air Force Base Education Center
04.2022 - 01.2023
Reference Librarian
Kadena Air Force Base Library
01.2020 - 03.2021
Library Media Specialist
Lincoln North Star High School
08.2007 - 06.2010
High School English Teacher
Dodge City High School
08.2002 - 05.2004
Master's Degree - Secondary Education - Library Science concentration
University of Nebraska – Omaha
Bachelor's Degree - English - Secondary Education concentration
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
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