Tara O'Shea

As the Director of Child Care & Programs for the YWCA Princeton Tara O’Shea is responsible for the daily operations of The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center at YWCA Princeton and youth programs. This includes but is not limited to ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for infants and school-aged children. She manages a staff of over 20, which includes the TBFECC, After School Program, Dance, Aquatics and Robotics, and Summer enrichment. Tara’s responsibility, vast experience, and strong communication skills are just a few of the essential traits Tara possesses in this role.

Since January 2007, Tara O’Shea has served as the YWCA Princeton Director of Youth Programs and has been responsible for managing the youth activities, which include gymnastics and martial arts, summer camps, winter/spring breaks, Princeton University reunion camps, and after school programs sponsored by the YWCA. In this capacity, she facilitates the development of new programs, oversees the program offerings, and supervises staff across the departments to ensure these programs embody the YWCA’s mission and serve the needs of the community. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. She presently serves on the Princeton Early Childhood Advisory Council (PECAC). This council includes parents, community members, and early childhood educators of Princeton, brought together for the purpose of collaboration and advisory to support young children and their families. She is a member of the National After School Alliance (NAA). She works closely with the NJSACC: The Statewide Network for New Jersey’s Afterschool Communities for quality improvements in the after-school program focusing on SEL ( Social Emotional Learning) and inclusion. A grant funds from the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development.