Executive Director for the June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development
Dr. Tarabeth Heineman is the Executive Director for the June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development, a program of the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University. The Center was established in 2000 to provide leadership in educational initiatives with the primary goal of elevating educational opportunities for every child in West Virginia.
After joining the Harless team in the spring of 2005, Tarabeth has held various positions for the Center. Currently, Tarabeth leads a team of 18 staff members and 6 graduate assistants and directs the work of the June Harless Center, which focuses on early childhood education, early and elementary learning PreK-5, and STEAM education. She also oversees an annual budget of approximately 2.5 million dollars, which includes federal, state, and foundation funds.
Tarabeth has participated in three study abroad tours to the world-renowned early childhood programs in Reggio Emilia, Italy. After collaborating with foundations and exploring other state funding opportunities, Dr. Heineman is working to support preservice and in-service early childhood educators in the implementation of the Reggio-inspired approach. She completed her doctorate at Marshall University with a degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2022.
