Educator, Speaker & Author

Teresa Thompson fell in love with accounting after her very first class—and fell in love with teaching soon after. While working as an accounting tutor at her community college, she told the center’s director, “I want to tutor this stuff forever!” With a smile, he replied, “That’s called teaching.” In that moment, Teresa’s path became crystal clear.

She went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, her CPA license, and gain experience in both public and private accounting before returning full circle—this time, not as a student, but as a professor. Today, Teresa teaches at the very same community college where she first discovered her passion for accounting and helping others.

Teresa loves being in the classroom and is known for her innovative and engaging teaching methods. From a Pokémon-themed syllabus to a 'Squid Games' escape room, she loves integrating pop culture into her assignments and looking for ways to make learning approachable, meaningful, and fun.

Teresa frequently speaks to national audiences and writes about the importance of joy, play, and connection in education. Her published works include “The Importance of a Good Bedside Manner for Doctors Teachers,” “What a Cool Syllabus…But is it Accessible?”, and “The Unexpected Benefits of Play.”

Her contributions have earned her several awards, including Excellence in Teaching, Service to the Community, and Program Excellence honors from her college. In 2025, Teresa received the Cook Prize, the foremost national recogition for consistent excellence and outstanding contributions as an educator in the field of accounting.

Beyond the classroom, Teresa serves as Director of West Valley College’s Entrepreneurship Center, where she helps students apply their business and accounting skills to their own ventures -cheering them on each step of their journey. She also serves on the Board of the Teachers of Accounting at Two Year Colleges (TACTYC), championing mentorship, outreach, and educator support across the country.

When she’s not teaching, speaking, or mentoring, Teresa can be found hiking, diving into pedagogy books, or curled up with a good mystery novel—and her one-eyed, two-toned cat, Rex—always dreaming up new ways to bring more joy and impact to her students’ learning experiences.