2026 SHAPE Iowa

Tara McCarthy has been teaching for 27 years with the Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE) in Glen Ellyn, IL. She is nationally certified in Adapted Physical Education (CAPE) and holds both a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Science in Education with a specialization in Adapted Physical Education from Northern Illinois University.In 2019, Tara was recognized for her excellence in the field with multiple honors: the Northeastern District of Illinois AHPERD Teacher of the Year in Adapted Physical Education, the Illinois AHPERD Teacher of the Year in Adapted Physical Education, and the Midwest District SHAPE America Teacher of the Year in Adapted Physical Education.As a senior member of the CASE Adapted Physical Education staff and a member of the CASE Leadership Team, Tara mentors new teachers and has presented more than 60 sessions at district, state, and national levels. Her expertise includes adapted PE curriculum development and administration, Universal Design for Learning in the Related Arts, strategies for students with severe and profound disabilities, inclusive service delivery models, physical fitness assessment for students with disabilities, and differentiated instructional strategies.