The Rev. Dr. Tim Tharp has a wide and varied background in education having been involved in a variety of capacities since 1993.  After teaching 5-12 math and history for eight years in Scobey, he has served as Superintendent/Principal/AD/Teacher/Coach/Referee/Tournament Director in Dutton, Dutton/Brady, Sunburst, and Hobson in addition to two years as a part-time Superintendent in Golva, ND.  When he retired from serving as the Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction, he returned to his roots in eastern Montana, went back to school again, and became an ordained pastor serving a two-point parish.

Education has always been an important part of his life as he attended Rocky Mountain College working toward a double major in math and business from 1988-1991, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Math and History education in 1993 from MSU, a Masters degree in Mathematics in 1999 from MSU, an MBA from the UM School of Business in 2008, a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UM in 2014, and attended Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in a blended-learning model from 2018-2021.

Other leadership experiences in the field include serving as the president of the Montana Rural Education Association for many years, serving on the boards of the Montana Council on Economic Education, the Montana Schools Property and Liability Insurance Program, the Montana School Health & Welfare Plan, and the Montana Unified School Trust.  Tim is also the elected Richland County Superintendent of Schools and previously served as the Vice-Chair of the Savage School Board from April 2020 to December 2022.

His passion includes serving the mental health needs of all ages as an instructor for Mental Health First Aid and QPR Suicide Prevention.  As a member of the Board of Public Education, he is a strong advocate for solving problems and increasing flexibility to best serve local school districts.