Tamara Harper

Tamara "Joy" Harper has a diverse background in early childhood education and development. Tamara "Joy" has served as a Director in the Early Childhood Education Home Based Program at Cambridge Public Schools, overseeing the program, staff, and budget. In this role, they support parents in their role as their child's first teacher by promoting parent-child interaction and play.

Joy is also an Educational Consultant and behavior coach at Conversations with Rhea & Joy, where they provide professional development, coaching, and collaboration to help teach children problem-solving and thinking skills.

Additionally, Joy is a ThinkKids Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, where they guide and trains education professionals to engage children with challenging behaviors using a strategic approach that incorporates empathy and collaboration to find solutions and support emotional regulation and thinking skills.

Tamara "Joy" has also worked as an Early Childhood & Family Specialist at Somerville Family Learning Collaborative, creating high-quality learning environments and supporting parents in connecting with community resources and understanding child development milestones.

In their previous roles, Joy has served as a Developmental Specialist at Criterion Early Intervention Program and California Early Start. In these positions, they conducted assessments, provided intervention sessions, and served as a family liaison for early intervention services.

Joy's work experience demonstrates their passion for early childhood education and development, as well as their expertise in supporting parents and educators in fostering children's growth and well-being.

Tamara "Joy" Harper completed a Fellowship in Collaborative Proactive Solutions at the Massachusetts General Department of Psychiatry from 2021 to 2023. Tamara "Joy" was certified in the Newborn Individualized Care & Assessment Program with a focus on Infant Mental Health at the University of California, San Francisco in 2010-2011. In 2004-2006, Tamara earned their Master of Science in School Psychology from National University (PH). Tamara "Joy" also received certification as a Postpartum Doula from the Childbirth & Postpartum Professional Association in 2012. Tamara completed their Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at California State University, Long Beach from 1995 to 1999.