Her Story
About Teresa
Teresa Spence is a Special Education Teacher currently working remotely for Stellar Virtual, bringing more than nine years of classroom experience since she began her teaching career in 2015. Over the years she has taught at Lubbock ISD, Olton High School, and Levelland ISD before moving into virtual instruction due to chronic health conditions that made in-person teaching difficult to sustain. In her current role, she supports students through resource classes, carefully adapting general education curricula to a slower, more accessible pace without compromising the required content, while also managing IEPs and 504 plans to ensure students receive appropriate accommodations.
Spence's academic path reflects a steady commitment to growth in her field. She earned her Bachelor of Education from Lubbock Christian University in 2007, followed by a Master's degree in Special Education and Teaching from Lamar University in 2018, and she is now pursuing a Doctor of Education at Liberty University, expected in 2028. Alongside her classroom work, she has served as a Teacher Trainer with the Center for Teacher Effectiveness, helping fellow educators strengthen classroom management skills through the Time to Teach program. Her contributions to the profession have been recognized through the TIA Recognized Teacher designation and the Teacher on the Rise award she received in 2020.
Beyond the classroom, Spence is the host of the Spoons For Life Podcast, a project she launched to raise awareness around chronic illness and support others navigating similar health challenges using the framework of spoon theory. Her passion for special education is deeply personal, shaped in part by raising a child who is bipolar and autistic, which has fueled her dedication to ensuring students get the support they need to thrive. She attributes her professional growth to patience, a continual desire to learn, and the motivation she draws from her own children, and she encourages newer educators to seek out mentors and value proven teaching methods rather than assuming experience is optional.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Teresa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I credit my success to patience and a constant commitment to learning. My children are also a driving force behind my growth — they push me to keep improving, both for their sake and my own.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best guidance I received didn't come as a single piece of advice, but through example — the inspiring teachers I had growing up, who made the profession look genuinely enjoyable and showed me what it meant to truly connect with students.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd encourage new educators to find a mentor who has been in the field for years and to truly listen to them. Fresh out of school doesn't mean you already know it all — there are tried-and-true techniques that have stood the test of time for good reason. Leaning on an experienced mentor and learning from their perspective makes all the difference.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see is the increasing politicization of education, where teachers often aren't trusted to know their subject matter or what's genuinely best for their students. It can feel like constant micromanagement. On a personal level, managing chronic health conditions also led me to transition into virtual teaching to sustain my career.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Balancing my role as an educator with my role as a mother is central to who I am. Making sure both my students and my own children have what they need matters deeply to me — my middle child, who is bipolar and autistic, is a big part of why I'm drawn to special education. Patience and a willingness to keep learning guide both my professional and personal life.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.