After serving 30 years in education, on Dec. 20, 2024, Superintendent of the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD), Dr. Tara Taupier, announced her retirement, effective June 30, 2025. The district will begin the search for her successor in the coming months. 

“A lot [of thought] went into the decision to retire, most specifically, conversations with my family. I’ve spent 30 years in education, and I felt like it was a good time [to step away],” Taupier said. 

Taupier has been the Superintendent since 2018, balancing challenges and community discourse. She emphasized that while community members may disagree with various resolutions, the goal is to make the best decision for the broader community. 

“[The district] serves over 4,000 students. [There are] 9,000 parents. There are various perspectives and sometimes people will give input, but there’s a difference between being heard and being agreed with. We can’t necessarily implement everyone’s input, so balancing what is right for the greater good [of the school] can be challenging,” Taupier said.

Ultimately, though, Taupier’s main focus is on student equity. Corbett Elsen, the Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations who worked with Taupier for over 20 years, highlights her commitment to creating opportunities for all students, especially those from underserved communities. 

“There are [many programs dedicated to student equity]: the Student Led Anti Racist Movement (SLAM), Racial Equity Task Force and more. The common thread with all of them is a superintendent who is the advocate, driving all of them, supporting them and reinforcing them. [Taupier’s] greatest strength is being laser-focused on students of need,” Elsen said.

Before stepping into district leadership, Taupier was a social studies teacher and later an assistant principal, bringing a deep understanding of classroom and administrative needs.

“[Taupier] is a teacher at heart and she knows that our teachers are the ones that drive [equity] work. It is the relationship of the teacher and the student that is where the action is,” Elsen said.

After many years serving the district, Taupier now prepares for this transition, expressing gratitude for her time there and confidence in a smooth leadership handover. 

“I think any successful system should be based on the system and not a person. My hope is that I have led in a way that will be a seamless transition for [a new superintendent] to pick up the reins and grow it with their own vision. There’s so much support and I trust that this board and community will select someone who will best serve the community,” Taupier said.

As the district moves forward with the search for a new superintendent, TUHSD is seeking community input in the selection process. A discussion session will be held on Feb. 5, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Kreps Conference Room for the public to share thoughts on the district’s next leader.

For further information on the selection of the new superintendent, visit the TUHSD district website. To participate in the search for the new superintendent, follow the link:  English | Spanish