Music that Describes Tara
Tara Collins was nominated by her colleague, Shayla McNiven.
"Ms. Collins is the kindest, most empathetic member of our mental health team at Riverton Middle School," said McNiven. "If anyone is having a bad day, student or staff, she is the first to notice and show she cares. You never hear her say anything negative without constructive feedback."
Ms. Collins is the first person to help with whatever needs to be done, but that doesn't mean she is passive. Ms. Collins has been a force for real change inside and outside the school system. She always puts the needs of the students at the forefront of what she does. When something needs to be handled in a way that aligns with best practices to assist the students, Ms. Collins is the driving force in initiating talks and changing the system so it improves. She doesn't let "that's the way it's been" be an excuse and will actively adjust the system in meaningful ways.
Ms. Collins has been crucial to many of the programs at RMS. She started the Spartan Academy program, an alternative option for students who might not do best in the traditional classroom. Ms. Collins did all the legwork and paperwork to start the program, which has seen a lot of success over the past three years. Additionally, she pushed for a sixth-grade Social and Emotional Learning class so teachers could help incoming students transition to middle school.
"She designed the curriculum and teaches it four days a week! I teach one day a week, and the students always ask to continue whatever fun lesson Tara left them on," said McNiven. "Lastly, she is a fundamental coordinator of the Positive Behavior Incentive System (PBIS). I did not realize how much she had been doing until she went on maternity leave. I almost had an anxiety attack trying to keep up with her work, even when we were splitting it between three other counselors/social workers."
Ms. Collins demonstrates what it means to be a LifeChanger. She makes a beneficial difference in the lives of students and staff. Ms. Collins positively adds to the environment at RMS, especially for the office staff and her Special Education students. As demonstrated above, she is a school leader who is committed to doing what is best for the students, even if that means having hard conversations with entities inside and outside the school.
"Overall, I can't think of anyone more deserving of a LifeChanger of the Year nomination than Tara Collins," said McNiven.
Way to go Tara! You are such a positive person who makes a difference for so many.
My beautiful Tara.
She is one of the most genuinely kind people on the planet, and is always ready with supportive, encouraging, and loving words. She has 100% been a life changer in my life, and clearly countless others. I would despair without her, and she is so deserving of this accolade!
Well, of course! We all know this about you. Good job and congratulations!
When I think of Life Changer, only a short list of names come to mind. Tara Collins is on that list. It takes a great listener to be able to really understand not what people are just saying but what they’re heart is saying. Tara is patient, kind, and always the first person to know if some one is “off”.
Tara is such a blessing to our family, she is a beautiful young woman,so caring and loving to everyone!
The best person I know! Tara is a lifechanger, perpetual advocate, and my personal North Star. She’d never boast about it, but as many people have commented, Tara goes above and beyond—in everything. Plus, she regularly does this sans caffeine.
I’ve always believed that she could do anything she wanted to do or be anything she wanted to be. Tara is intelligent, driven, kind, empathetic, steady, and an incredible listener. She strives for excellence in herself, and raises the bar for everyone around her. She has all of the qualities you’d want in any leader or person in a position of power. She chooses to be an advocate. I’d be lost without her—and I’d imagine I’m not alone in that sentiment. She has changed my life, and no doubt, the lives of countless others.
Tara embodies all that we associate with the phrase LifeChanger. She provides a safe space for students and staff whether in crisis or simply in need of a listening ear. She advocates for students in the school setting and with local agencies. She creates a warm, caring and professional relationship and her students know they are loved. Her positive connection is the conduit for life change. She provides a ray of light to the hopeless and gives strength to those who feel weak. I am privileged to call her a co-worker and friend.
The best person I know! Tara is so deserving of any and all recognition of her perpetual advocacy.
Tara is truly a Lifechanger! She is a voice for those who can’t stand up for themselves. She is able to say the hard things that need to be said to make real change happen. Tara approaches her work and her life with love and empathy for everyone she comes across. Her caring presence is in itself a Lifechanger. She has helped so many kids in her career and so many yet to come. I can’t think of anyone else more deserving of this award.
Definitely a great choice for this! She is the most caring and kind person. She makes our school a better place!
Tara Collins deserves this award! She is for sure a 'life changer' for so many students as well as staff. Her impact will be felt for years and years to come. Our school and community are better because she is a part of them!
Such a great teacher and even better role model to my kids. I couldn’t think of a more worthy recipient.
It gives me great pleasure to write this recommendation in support of Tara Collins’ nomination for the LifeChanger Award. I have known Tara for over 12+ years and I have yet to see her anything but positive in all she has accomplished. Tara is a generous, enthusiastic, motivating, and inspiring young lady as well as a positive influence to her husband and children. I know when I am around her, I am inspired to be a better person. Watching Tara interact with her family gives me a sense of peace in my heart that only makes me feel proud to love and know her. Tara is also incredibly dedicated to her job as a social worker at Riverton Middle School. I would venture to say she has changed the lives of the children she works with, in addition to her colleagues, for the positive. If you were to ask me who should be more deserving of the LifeChanger Award, I would have to say that only Tara Collins comes to my mind for this award.
I have known Tara for several years now. I am a co-worker of hers at RMS. On numerous occasions I have emailed her or approached her in person, depending on the situation at hand, to see a certain student who appears to be struggling emotionally or has requested to see her. She always responds with a caring and considerate attitude. She is definitely one of the nicest people I have ever met! Tara is certainly deserving of the LifeChanger of the Year award. That is a perfectly accurate adjective for Mrs. Tara Collins!
Mrs. Collins is absolutely deserving of this acknowledgment! I have had two children in RMS and at one time or another they both have had encounters with her. Most recently my son was struggling with some things and Mrs. Collins went above and beyond to make sure he was taken care of. She was caring and listened to me when I was explaining the situation. She was empathetic and made me me feel like what we were going through was important to her and that she was going to stick with us until it was resolved, which she did! My son felt a little more comfortable talking to a male counselor at the school and Tara made sure that the transition from her to him was smooth and she still remained in touch with us to ensure we were feeling better about everything. You will be hard-pressed to find someone who cares and works as hard as she does! Truly, the entire counseling staff at RMS is top notch!
Tara truly is a life changer. I have worked with her for 10 years and every year I am in awe by her compassion, consistency, stability and poise. You make a huge difference in each students life as well as in my own. You’re such a positive and upbeat soul. Thank you Tara for your kindness and commitment!
Well deserving! Such a kind and gentle spirit eho goes above and beyond for her students. She is compassionate and empathetic. Definitely deserves this award.
Congratulations Tara on the well deserved nomination!! Every single school needs dedicated, amazing social workers/ counselors like you!
Tara is beyond deserving of this award. She is incredibly empathetic, compassionate and always go the extra mile for students, families and her colleagues. I am fortunate to know her, learn from her and call her a friend. I cannot think of another person more deserving.
Tara is remarkable. I can imagine everyone nominated for this reward is, but Tara’s spirit of relentless kindness without sacrificing self-advocacy and resolve is like I’ve never known in anyone else. She sets the example for what it means to be a good friend, a good spouse, a good mother, a good employee, a good social worker… all the things that as humans we try so hard to balance. I don’t know what else to say except that she makes the people around her better effortlessly, by just being who she is in the world.
It is hard to put into words the gratitude I have and many others have for Tara. I cannot think of anyone more deserving for the “Life Changer” title.
Yes she is my wife, but she is much more than that to me and my family.
She is an incredible mother to our two young children, working so hard daily to raise kind, considerate and honest people. (I know that they will be life changers too).
She is reliable and always willing to help out friends and family in anyway needed.
Tara is steady, articulate and compassionate to the nth degree. She brings home work (to often) to find solutions for helping out her fellow staff members and most of all the kids that she works with. Going as far as providing opportunities for students outside of her work duties to positively change her the lives of the kids she works with.
She beams with creativity and lifts everyone up with her presence.
Most of all she is my hero. Literally a true hero. I have diabetes and countless times she has aided me during the most inconvenient times, nursing me back to health. There is nothing like a sleepy low blood sugar diabetic. I’ve never heard her complain about it either. She has made me a better person in more ways than imaginable.
All those wonderful quotes in Harry Potter, they were written with someone like Tara Collins in mind.
The famous quote by Maya Angelou epitomizes Tara. People remember who she is because of the way she makes them feel.
I know that every life that Tara has touched has been changed for the best. She is a true life changer.
In addition to all of that, she spends one day each week at our Alternative Program. A specially designed 9-12 program for students that struggle with a multitude of issues. When you first see her, within 3 seconds a smile will be radiating from her and she will ask how you are doing. She always goes the extra mile, or the second, third or fourth. Going above & beyond is her normal. She is a life changer!
Tara is the definition of a LifeChanger. Our community is better with her in it!
