Originally from Durham, NC, Teah earned his undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University where he majored in business administration with a concentration in finance. While working for an investment bank after graduation, Teah volunteered in the community and co-taught an afterschool class at a local middle school where he first became interested in teaching.

After leaving a job in finance, Teah decided to join the Peace Corps in 2018, originally as an education volunteer. He was ultimately assigned to western Uganda as an agribusiness and economic development volunteer partnered with the Kibaale Development Company in Mabaale. While in Uganda, Teah developed his passion for working with youth of all ages in local schools and through various youth camps such as Startup Uganda and Grassroots Soccer. In order to connect with youth in one camp, Teah turned for inspiration to Michelle Obama’s book "Becoming," and her references to the power of public speaking and writing. The students already knew about her and responded so well to her references that he began to feel more comfortable with teaching.

Since returning home to the states in March of 2020, he has worked in Ithaca as an assistant teacher in a Montessori school, and as a substitute teacher for the Ithaca City School District. After he first learned of the TC Jaffe Peace Corps Fellows Program, Teah was impressed by the rapid response to his query from Jaffe Fellows Program Director Elaine Perlman. After overcoming some doubts about enrolling in a master’s degree program and teaching in New York City, Teah decided to proceed with his application and interview. As a Jaffe Fellow in the social studies education program since January 2021, Teah has found that others in his cohort are very thoughtful and committed to becoming teachers. He also recalls a recent course in experiential learning he took with Professor Thomas James, former Dean and Provost at Teachers College.

Teah is looking forward to meeting the rest of his Jaffe Fellows cohort in person, as coursework and programming have been online this year. He has been very fortunate to be able to experience in-person teaching in local New York City schools during the Covid-19 pandemic and is excited by the opportunity to continue developing as a teacher—he sees his teaching as a form of activism that will hopefully inspire any student who steps into his classroom.