TARA BEAMS
102 Hiawatha Avenue Oceanport, NJ,USA
Summary
Experienced Superintendent of Schools with expertise in school management, fiscal oversight, and innovative instructional practices. Proven ability in strategic planning, fiscal responsibility, management, educational leadership, policy implementation, governance, and board relations, complemented by strong communication skills. Achievements include enhancing academic performance through innovative teaching strategies and fostering collaborative learning environments in both small and large school districts.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Superintendent of Schools
Henry Hudson Regional PK-12 School District
Highlands, NJ
07.2021 - Current
- Spearheaded first successful regionalization of schools into comprehensive PK-12 district in New Jersey, securing 67% voter support.
- Served as shared Superintendent across three independent districts from July 2021 to July 2024.
- Cultivated relationships with 41 Board of Education members over four years.
- Facilitated creation and implementation of three budgets, adapting to loss of state aid under S2 legislation.
- Negotiated new collective bargaining agreement within four months, merging three separate agreements.
- Achieved 8% growth in ELA and 15% in Mathematics during 2024-2025 school year, attaining 100% proficiency in ELA and 73.7% in Math on NJGPA.
- Secured essential grant opportunities, including Preschool Expansion Aid for free preschool to 75 students across two municipalities.
- Directed facilities projects with Business Administrators, enhancing HVAC, roofing, lighting, flooring, and athletic fields through grants and responsible budgeting.
Acting Superintendent/CEO and Assistant Superintendent/ COO
Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission & Bayshore Jointure Commission
Tinton Falls, NJ
09.2017 - 06.2021
- Oversaw educational services and operations for Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission and Bayshore Jointure Commission with budgets exceeding $75 million since May 2019.
- Managed two Boards of Trustees comprising 24 Superintendents from Monmouth and Ocean County.
- Implemented programs supporting over 6,100 students throughout New Jersey.
- Developed and monitored educational programming for alternative education school serving grades 6-12 and Shore Center for Students with Autism PK-21.
- Designed and marketed diverse educational services to assist NJ school districts with special education, curriculum development, and online learning initiatives.
- Created flexible professional development programs for all commission staff, covering Best Practices in Instruction and Behavior Analysis.
- Served on Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children Board and spearheaded post-21 continuing education program for adults with autism set to launch September 2025.
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction PK – Grade 5
Edison Township Public Schools
Edison, NJ
07.2014 - 06.2017
- Served as Assistant Superintendent for sixth largest district in NJ with over 7,400 PK-5 students and 585 staff members across 13 buildings.
- Successfully transitioned K-5 grade levels to a 1:1 iPad and Chromebook initiative within two years.
- Developed rigorous, inquiry-based K-5 curricula in all content areas aligned to CCSS and NGSS standards.
- Led digital transformation of entire K-5 curricula, integrating ELA/SS curriculum and transitioning resources to digital formats.
- Designed comprehensive professional development plans for K-5 staff, including ongoing activities like PLCs and instructional coaching.
- Implemented a rigorous assessment system featuring quarterly benchmarks and formative assessments aligned to ELA and Math CCSS.
- Redesigned RTI programming for math and literacy to enhance targeted instruction and improve progress monitoring.
- Collaborated with administrative teams to create custom evaluation documents, ensuring consistency in instructional practices.
Principal
Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School
New Egypt, NJ
07.2012 - 06.2014
- Led instructional leadership for 457 students and 72 staff in grades 2-5 at New Jersey Choice elementary school.
- Designed and implemented professional development plan focusing on CCSS alignment, Danielson Framework, TeachNJ, AchieveNJ, PARCC preparation, differentiated instruction, Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop, and STEM initiatives.
- Redesigned Gifted/Enrichment program to offer whole-school enrichment and targeted education for gifted LAL and STEM students.
- Developed modified Reader’s Workshop and Math Workshop programs; facilitated Writer’s Workshop implementation for grades K-5.
Adjunct Professor
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ
01.2010 - 06.2019
- Developed curriculum for upper-level courses for college juniors and seniors pursuing communications degrees, as well as Media Literacy, Broadcast News Writing, Broadcast Copy Writing, Critical Discourse courses for communication majors.
- Collaborated with supervisor of HawkTV to revise writing curriculum and broadcast writing program within communications department
Program Supervisor – Professional Learning Communities/Professional Development
Sayreville War Memorial High School
Parlin, NJ
09.2009 - 06.2012
- Produced and supervised original daily morning news and variety show programming
- Secured and maintained partnership with MSG Varsity for external communications and to raise school profile
- Collaborated with administration to create community awareness television programming for external communication needs
- Led peer leadership program, (Peer Group program from Princeton Center for Leadership Training) training and fundraising.
Head Teacher – Visual and Performing Arts Academy
Long Branch Public School District
Long Branch, NJ
09.2003 - 07.2009
- Developed proposal and plan for full schedule of educational television programming., produced in district, to help better serve educational, professional development, social awareness and community relations needs of the district.
- Developed proposal and implementation plan for the creation of a district-wide intranet site to help with internal communications, professional development and teacher collaboration throughout the large district.
- Assisted in launch of Middle School and High School Television Production/Media Studies program
- Boosted student achievement in each class by more than 85% for NJASK4
- Served as mentor for at risk students
Education
Doctor of Education - E-Learning
Northcentral University
Prescott, AZ06.2017
M.A. Ed./Administration and Supervision -
University of Phoenix
07.2007
B.A. - Journalism and Mass Communications
Rutgers College
New Brunswick, NJ01.2000
Some College (No Degree) - Sports Broadcast Journalism Major
University of Maryland
College Park, MDSkills
- Policy management and implementation
- Program evaluation
- Budget oversight
- Strategic planning
- Curriculum design
- Educational leadership
- Stakeholder engagement
- Data analysis
- Effective communication
- Team collaboration
- Governance and board relations
- Professional development
Certification
- NJ School Administrator, Standard Certificate
- NJ Principal, Standard Certificate
- Audio/Visual Broadcast Production Technology, Standard Certificate
- K-8 Elementary Education, Standard Certificate
References
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Awards
Amazon Education – Member of advisory board, Long Branch Board of Education ~ President & Vice President 2010-2013, Personnel Committee Chairperson, Governance and Curriculum Committee Members, 2008-2009 Monmouth County Teacher of the Year, 2008-2009 Long Branch Public Schools District Teacher of the Year, 2008-2009 LBMS Visual and Performing Arts Academy Teacher of the Year, 2004-2005 Audrey W. Clark Teacher of the Year, Employee of the Month, various awards
Accomplishments
- Featured in School Leader Magazine (Fall 2024) for work on regionalization
- Presenter NJASA Spring Conferences
- Amazon Education – Member of advisory board
- Long Branch Board of Education ~ President & Vice President 2010-2013
- Personnel Committee Chairperson
- Governance and Curriculum Committee Members
- 2008-2009 Monmouth County Teacher of the Year
- 2008-2009 Long Branch Public Schools District Teacher of the Year
- 2008-2009 LBMS Visual and Performing Arts Academy Teacher of the Year
- 2004-2005 Audrey W. Clark Teacher of the Year
Affiliations
- Monmouth Women in Educational Leadership Steering Committee Member/Presenter
- NJASA Technology Committee Member
- NJSIAA Representative to Monmouth County Superintendents Roundtable
- Shore Conference Athletic Directors Executive Board Member - Monmouth County Representative
- Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children - Executive Board Member
- Achieve Academy - Board Chairperson and Founding Member
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Superintendent of Schools
Henry Hudson Regional PK-12 School District
07.2021 - Current
Acting Superintendent/CEO and Assistant Superintendent/ COO
Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission & Bayshore Jointure Commission
09.2017 - 06.2021
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction PK – Grade 5
Edison Township Public Schools
07.2014 - 06.2017
Principal
Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School
07.2012 - 06.2014
Adjunct Professor
Monmouth University
01.2010 - 06.2019
Program Supervisor – Professional Learning Communities/Professional Development
Sayreville War Memorial High School
09.2009 - 06.2012
Head Teacher – Visual and Performing Arts Academy
Long Branch Public School District
09.2003 - 07.2009
Doctor of Education - E-Learning
Northcentral University
M.A. Ed./Administration and Supervision -
University of Phoenix
B.A. - Journalism and Mass Communications
Rutgers College
Some College (No Degree) - Sports Broadcast Journalism Major
University of Maryland
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