Tara Haller, or as I knew her “Ms. Haller,” passed away earlier last month.
The Durango Herald published a thoughtful obituary, and I’m grateful to those who knew Ms. Haller the best for sharing her life story with such care. I simply wanted to offer another tribute – from the perspective of one of the many students who was fortunate enough to learn from her.
I met Ms. Haller when I joined her Calculus AB class during my junior year of high school. On the first day of Calculus AB, she taught us about limits, then assigned the most homework I had ever received. I walked out of her class with my head spinning, wondering if I was in over my head. That night, I pulled out my calculus homework with trepidation and found myself confused on the first problem. In a moment of youthful insecurity, I began to think that perhaps this was proof I just was not that smart.
However, I remembered that Ms. Haller had sent us a website link – the Homework Website – where she worked through that night’s assigned problems. Before I could fall too deeply into despair, I opened the website. Methodically organized by date and subject, it showed all the homework problems Ms. Haller had assigned and how she had worked through each one. With the help of the Homework Website, I was able to slowly work my way through all my calculus homework. The next day in class, I found I could follow the lesson.
Looking back – now as someone who has worked as an educator – I’m struck by how much time and energy must have gone into creating and maintaining the Homework Website. Ms. Haller updated it daily for all her classes, often solving problems in multiple ways to offer students different paths to understanding. The site was a perfect reflection of her teaching philosophy: challenge students with high expectations and rigorous work, but always pair that with the support students needed to succeed – whether through the Homework Website, her lunch office hours or her quiet, steady emotional encouragement.
And succeed we did. While the average AP scores at Durango High School typically was a 2 or 3, Ms. Haller’s students consistently earned 4s and 5s. This success undoubtedly came from her thoughtful organization and unwavering belief that students could rise to the challenge of AP tests.
Ms. Haller’s faith in her students extended far beyond her calculus classes – she saw promise in every student at DHS. One of the many ways she put this belief into action was launching the school’s first AP Computer Science program in 2016, and adding a second, more advanced Computer Science class the following year. Though she wasn’t particularly familiar with coding when she started, she recognized the changing tech landscape and was determined to prepare DHS students for it. While continuing to teach a full class load of calculus classes, she learned computer science curricula and attended the Colorado Legacy Schools Program to ensure her new classes welcomed students from all backgrounds. As she put it: “It is important that all students are invited into a community of learners and feel like they belong.”
That belief in belonging wasn’t just something she said – it was something she lived. And it shaped not only her classroom, but also the people she taught. I know I am one of many students still carrying her lessons – lessons that reached far beyond math and computer science – into how I engage with the world.
Ms. Haller’s influence shows up in both the small and big moments of my life. I think of Ms. Haller when I log into my bank account, remembering her practical lesson about password security in AP Computer Science. I think of her when I show up for my community, just as she showed up for her students’ games and performances. In my current teaching role, I think of her when I meet high school students who, like I once did, don’t believe they are smart. Most of all I think of her when I look people in the eye and truly listen – something she did with every student who walked into her classroom.
So, Ms. Haller, I hate to disturb you – for I’m sure a new batch of students needing math and computer science help have already found you in whatever world comes after this life – but I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for letting me study in your classroom at lunch, for helping me believe I was smart and capable, and for seeing potential in every one of your students.
A Celebration of the Life of Tara Haller will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 6, 2025, at Chris Park Group Sites near Haviland Lake. The celebration includes remembrances (4 to 5 p.m.), a shared meal with provided barbecue and vegetarian options (5 to 6 p.m.), and a group campfire with music and memories (6 to 7 p.m.). Please bring a side dish or dessert to share, beverages of your choice and musical instruments if possible. Camping is available for overnight stays – arrive before 3 p.m. to set up campsites or RVs. Carpooling is encouraged.
Donations in memory of Tara may be made to the Durango Education Foundation (9rfoundation@gmail.com) to support a scholarship established in her name for a student pursuing studies in mathematics or computer science.
