Dr. Joyce Willard Teal is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University. She received a Doctorate in Christian Counseling from Jacksonville Theological Seminary.

While teaching in Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived and taught for six years, she was voted Teacher of the Year at her school, Long Middle School, and was an award-winning teacher in the Dallas Independent School District from which she retired. Her career path, however, took her through New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Virginia where she taught at the college level as well as reading/language arts to boys and girls in the public schools. Since her retirement from the public school system, she has taught English at Southwest Christian College and Paul Quinn College.

She began writing professionally in 1995 and has had several award-winning poems published. Her first book, It’s O.K. To Be Different, was written for boys and girls between the ages of nine and fifteen, but has universal appeal, has since been published in a New Millennium Edition. It is currently being read by children as well as adults.

Since 1995, Dr. Teal has written numerous books for adolescents, including her trilogy in the “Don’t Sweat It, Kid Series. The trilogy is targeted for an adolescent audience. Since Dr. Teal spent the bulk of her career as a teacher of language arts in middle school, she has written several books for youth at this level.

Learning A,B,C,’s with Seth, Dr. Teal’s first for the preschool child, was released during the summer of 2011. She has also written a sequel to this book, Learning 1,2,3,’s with Seth and Friends. Her latest book, Helping Children Learn about the Coronavirus, was coauthored by her daughter, Geisel Teal Wingfield.

You can find a list of her books and ordering information at www.untealthen.com.

Dr. Teal has been commended by the city of Fresno, CA for sharing her knowledge of genealogy, by the Dallas Independent School District with the Principles of Public Service Award, and by Harrell Budd Elementary School for her Black History presentation.  She is also the 1998 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. This award is sponsored by Shell Oil Company for the National Council of Negro Women. It is a prestigious award that only a few in the profession are privileged to receive. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, too numerous to list here.

Dr. Teal is a much sought-after motivational speaker and workshop leader. Her speaking engagements include delivering one of her black history poems on the Capitol Steps in Washington, D.C., conducting a seminar for Oakland Presbyterian Church Women in beautiful Lake Tahoe, conducting a Black History Presentation for Lockheed Martin in Alexandria, VA and numerous other engagements throughout the past twenty or more years.

Dr. Teal was named “Woman of the Year” by the members of Upsilon Nu Zeta, the chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. with which she is affiliated. She also feels quite honored that the chapter’s scholarship, which is awarded annually to a high school graduate who pursues post secondary education, has been named the Dr. Joyce Willard Teal’s Scholarship.

She is married to Prince O. Teal, Jr. and they have a son, Rodney, who is a minister and lawyer. He and his family reside in Alexandria, Virginia. They also have a daughter, Geisel, who is a Kindergarten Teacher. She and her family reside in Macon, Georgia. Dr. Teal has seven grandchildren whom she declares, “Are the light of my life.”