Tara Gard

Tara Gard possesses extensive experience in human resources and operations, currently serving as Chief Talent Officer at Oakland Unified School District since October 2005. Throughout this tenure, Tara has advanced through various leadership roles, including Deputy Chief of Talent and Executive Director of Human Resources Operations & Staffing, overseeing critical HR functions such as benefits, staffing, and HRIS systems. Prior to joining Oakland Unified, Tara co-founded Secure Compliance, Inc., addressing compliance issues in the financial services sector, and held key positions at Pacific Stock Exchange, ensuring regulatory compliance and evaluating options trading qualifications. Tara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Managerial Economics from Mills College and an Associate of Arts in Merchandise Marketing from FIDM.