Tara Palomares Albuquerque, NM | 7-12, Mathematics, 2021

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Tara Palomares has taught mathematics for 12 years, spending the last eight years at Sandia High School. She previously taught for two years at Bosque School, for one year at Health Leadership High School, and for one year at South Valley Academy. At Sandia, Tara teaches 9th-12th grade students in Geometry and Advanced Placement Calculus. She is dedicated to helping her students believe that everyone belongs in a mathematics classroom. Tara creates a community of learners that publicly value multiple approaches, where students collaborate on mathematical problems and support one another’s learning. As a champion of equity, Tara works to ensure that all students feel valued as mathematicians and learners. Tara facilitates several professional development groups at her school, including a 3-Minute Observation Club where teachers learn from one another’s classrooms through observation. She serves as a mentor for teachers pursuing National Board Certification through the National Board Network of Accomplished Minoritized Educators and serves as a cooperating teacher for preservice teachers at the University of New Mexico. Tara was the recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Leonore Annenberg Teaching Fellowship and is a Senior Fellow at the Knowles Teacher Initiative. Tara earned a B.S. in mathematics and an M.A. in education, both from Stanford University. She is working on a doctorate in teaching, learning and teacher education at the University of New Mexico. She is certified in secondary mathematics and is a National Board Certified Teacher.

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