'Sexpert' Tara Jones Is Training the Next Generation of Sex Educators

Tara Michaela Jones, the founder of the new sex education nonprofit, The Youth Sexpert Program (YSP), wasn't always an expert on sex. Like many young people growing up in the United States, she once struggled with the basics—like putting in a tampon when she got her first period.

"How could I be expected to know how to do something I was never taught?" asked Jones, now a digital sex educator based in New York City.

Difficulty inserting tampons wasn't the only harm caused by her lackluster sex education, which she describes as typical of a U.S. high school—in her words, not anywhere near good enough!

'We recognize that many youths turn to their friends to ask sexual education questions rather than adults'

"I was thrown into high school hookup culture. It felt like sex was expected of me and I knew absolutely nothing about it," Jones said. "I never had an orgasm before. I had never watched pornography. I didn't know how to advocate for myself. I didn't know how to set boundaries. I didn't know anything about my own pleasure or even the anatomy of my own body."

Her fellow teenagers were just as clueless, she noted.

Future sex educators: The Youth Sexpert Project is born

Her less-than-ideal high school experience motivated Jones to pursue a degree in gender and sexuality studies at New York University to become qualified as a sex educator.

Jones has built a buzzy online community of more than 14,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares insights and sparks conversations on issues such as the orgasm gap and how racism shows up in sex. Seeking to expand her reach to a greater community of sex education-starved young people, Jones launched YSP in December 2022. 

"I want to help train the next army of sex educators, young people themselves," Jones explained. "Who will then teach others about themselves, their bodies, their boundaries and their ideas, and preconceived notions of sex and sexuality."

Sex educators explain: What is The Youth Sexpert Program?

The Youth Sexpert Program is a burgeoning online sex education platform devoted to arming young people with "all things sex education-related," said Mattie Bieberly, the director of communications for the program. 

"We recognize that many youths turn to their friends to ask sexual education questions rather than adults, which leads us to advocate for today's youth to be armed with the most accurate and comprehensive overview of all things sex ed," Bierberly said.

YSP classes will be taught by Jones and other sex educators, including members of the nonprofit's advisory board. The YSP board comprises a diverse group of sex educators—people such as sex "edutainer" Dirty Lola, feminist writer Faye Odesser and public health sociologist Jessie Ford, Ph.D.

Jones said the curriculum will discuss sex education from "every angle imaginable," diving deep into meaty topics like consent, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) destigmatization, hookup culture and porn literacy.

"The curriculum will be designed to be as inclusive as possible, in terms of sex being not just penis-in-vagina sex," Jones said.

In addition to preparing them as sex education leaders, the program aims to support teens on their journey with their own bodies and relationships.

"We want our country's youth to be confident while living in a country that continually disregards them," Bieberly said. "YSP is an organization that would have benefitted me greatly growing up, and knowing other youths have the possibility to join gives me hope."

Learn more about The Youth Sexpert Program

The Youth Sexpert Program opened its first round of student applications on June 1, 2023. In the meantime, the team is working on getting more traction via social media and sponsors, and brand partners, Bieberly said. They are also hoping to visit high school classrooms in the Northeast to speak with students about the program.

"YSP is biting off a big chunk of discourse in society by focusing on comprehensive sex education to our country's youth," Bieberly said. "But we are ready to make sure that youth have the opportunity to learn about their bodies and safe relationships as they navigate their lives."

To support their efforts or find out more about the program, follow YSP Instagram and TikTok.