Tara Thibault-Edmonds is an experienced and passionate educator and youth advocate, having worked with activist and arts programs since she herself was a youth. Tara has been involved with Rural & Migrant Ministry programs from the age of 13, when her Girl Scout troop began working in social justice issues with the migrant population of Ulster and Orange counties. A lifetime Girl Scout, Tara holds an Associate’s degree in Communications from SUNY Ulster, a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Arizona State University, and a Master’s in Science in Information Science from SUNY Albany. She is currently a certified school library media specialist, and is active in regional, state, and national library organizations. She is a past president of School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern New York (SLMSSENY), a past president for the New York Library Association Section of School Librarians (NYLA/SSL), and the current New York State delegate to the American Association of School Librarians. Tara also works as a mentor to educators in her district and around the state, has served on New York State Education Department committees, and is a proud union member of New York State United Teachers. She serves her union local as the elected 3rd Vice President for Membership, as Delegate to the NYSUT Representative Assembly, and is the appointed Formatting Editor for the local union newsletter. In her daily job as a high school librarian, Tara works with students to build their critical thinking and civic engagement skills, and has served as an advisor to multiple clubs, including the Synthesis Diversity Club, dedicated to fostering inclusivity, acceptance, and action within the school and wider community, and the Student Congress, a student-led governing group. As the mother of five very active and engaged children, Tara recognizes the extreme importance of building a culture of strong, mindful youth who are connected, involved, and ready to impact the world.