Introducing...
TARA RINEHART, PHD
Master Builders of Iowa - Director of Industry Education
Dear Members,
I am excited to be able to serve you as the Director of Industry Education. I am an leader with over 20 years of experience in the field of education.The past fifteen of those years have been spent in administrative roles. In my most recent position as Assistant Superintendent with La Porte Community,I was an innovative educational leader and advocate in a school system that encouraged all students and staff to learn the skills and acquire the knowledge necessary for them to reach their full potential.
I am a lifelong learner who is compassionate, caring, and advocates for the growth of all. In addition, I value communication and strive to lead with not only my head, but most importantly my heart. I have strong conflict resolution and critical thinking skills and am able to handle issues with professionalism when they arise. I have earned the respect of colleagues for my quick thinking and level head.
Shine Bright like a Diamond!
I would truly like to bring my professionalism, dedication and passion to you and your endeavors. I am a strategic thinker and I have a proven ability to think outside the box to find innovative solutions to complex problems. I am also a strong leader and I have a track record of building successful teams. Galvanizing and mobilizing people around a common goal and working alongside to tap the genius potential inside of others is what gives me energy. I look forward to serving as a valuable resource for your needs.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tara RinehartKnowledge is Power, and Experience is Energy!
Dr. Rinehart most recently served as Assistant Superintendent of Special Education for the La Porte Community School Corporation. Prior, she was in MSD Wayne’s Office of Special Services from 2011-2022, first as assistant director and then director. She was an Elementary Principal and District Director of Exceptional Learners specialist with Special Education Complaints, Disproportionality and Parent Involvement. Prior to joining the Indiana Department of Education, Dr. Rinehart was a Special Education Department Chair and teacher for the Brownsburg Community School Corporation. She has also taugh Special Education k-12 in Arizona and Iowa. She graduated with her PhD and EdS from Indiana State University’s Wednesday Residency Program, her MS in Educational Administration from Butler University’s EPPSP program and received her Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Arizona State University. She holds a K-12 Mild Intervention License, and Intense Intervention License, a Building Level Administrator license and a Superintendent license in the states of Indiana and Iowa.
As president-elect of the INCEC executive board for two years, and then president, Dr. Rinehart has been able to lead as a board member in strategic planning and legislative advocacy in Washington, D.C. She also has provided leadership through presenting across the state around alternatives to restraint and seclusion and creating momentum through leadership to best serve students. She worked alongside the Indiana Department of Education to create the New Educator Institute, which allows all new special education teachers a CEC membership along with tools for their first year.
Tara has published in the Journal of Special Education Leadership among other professional publications. In addition to her published work, Dr. Rinehart is a regular speaker at various industry events and workshops and has been recognized by the Indiana School Mental Health Initiative with the 2022 Indiana Whole Child Educator of the Year award. She was also named the 2022 Indiana Outstanding Administrator of the Year award by the Indiana Council for Exceptional Children. She has received other accolades for her leadership on the Roadmap Back to School Task Force where she worked on supporting mental health for students and staff after returning to school from COVID shutdown.
The Enthusiastic Encourager!
Outside of work, she is a daughter, sister, mother and empathetic friend. She has three children whom she is extremely proud of. Lauren will complete nursing school in Indiana and work at Riley Children’s Hospital on their ICU floor, Mark is studying construction management at the University of Northern Iowa and will be a great
addition to the Iowa Construction Industry and Anthony is a high school scholar and wrestler in Indiana.
She currently resides in Ankeny, Iowa. Her journey to MBI came through a lunch conversation in regards to recruitment of students into the Construction Industry. Luckily her son had done work with one of our members and he suggested they contact her about the topic as well as her strengths around Mental Health. That member then suggested that she connect up with MBI to see if there might be an opportunity.
With her passion for creating pathways to attract, prepare and retain the very best and brightest students and staff, we felt she would be a great addition to our leadership team.
Chad Kleppe, MBI’s President and CEO stated, “I am confident that Tara’s leadership experience over the last 20 years will bring new and innovative energy into MBI’s compliment of educational programs. Members will see how her transformative approach will deliver an enhanced level of engagement, be it in person, hybrid or virtual.”
With over 3,000 downloads in our first season we are excited to bring you season 2!
With this new season, Tara will be launching her very own series --- “What Were You Thinking?”. A term we have all heard and maybe even said a time or two. But when Tara hears it, she can only think – If only it was said a different way, with a who different demeanor ---oh the things we could learn. We are very excited to bring you this new series
