Corporate to Classroom: Empowering the Next Generation
| by Hannah Sparling
Tiffesha Telesford rejects the idea that some people can’t do math. Sure, it may come easier to some while others have to practice a bit more, but everyone can do math.
That message — that everyone is capable — is one of the earliest lessons Telesford remembers from her teachers. She took it to heart. And now, as a teacher herself, she wants to pass it on.
“It’s just like any muscle,” she said. “You need to use it and practice it, and then you will be fine. I want to instill that in the younger generation.”
Escaping the ‘Hamster Wheel’
Telesford grew up in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean. Her initial career idea was to become an actuary, but she quickly realized that would be more schooling than she wanted and far too much student-loan debt.
She took some classes in her home country after high school and worked as a teaching assistant at the local community college. Then, she earned a scholarship to study math in Taiwan. She had friends who were studying there at the time, and they highly recommended it, so Telesford decided to follow. She spent the first year of her scholarship learning Mandarin and the next four years studying math in Mandarin for a degree in applied mathematics.
“It was the hardest thing I ever did in my entire life,” she said. “I didn’t expect to stay this long in Taiwan, but I’ve been here for 11 years. Even after I finished my studies, I stayed here, so it was actually a pretty good move in the end.”
Telesford went on to earn her master’s degree in business administration. Then, she joined the corporate world, working as an engineer and consultant.
“I did corporate work for around 3 years, and I realized that this hamster wheel is not for me,” she said. “So, I decided to go back to what I always liked, even in primary school, which was math. And that would kind of guide my path. That’s when I decided to teach math.”
Earning Her Teaching Certificate
Telesford doesn’t do anything halfway. So, once she decided she wanted to be a teacher, that meant she wanted to be a fully certified teacher. She started researching programs and found Moreland University. She liked that she could do Moreland’s program online, without having to move. And she liked the structure and rigor of the program. It wasn’t about checking a box for her — she wanted to learn and grow as a teacher.
“Moreland is the best of both worlds,” she said. “If you want to have the flexibility of getting certified remotely but still get the practical, hands-on content of how to manage your classroom, what you need to do to meet the needs of the students, go to Moreland.”
Telesford graduated from Moreland’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program in August. One of the biggest strengths she gained was in classroom management, and she has been able to motivate several students who would previously refuse to engage in classroom activities.
“That’s because of Moreland,” she said. “Classroom management is very important, and it can make or break your class. Moreland gave me the tools from the beginning to set classroom norms and procedures and [also taught me] how to make appropriate accommodations or modifications, how to differentiate.”
Telesford’s Moreland cohort had teachers from Haiti, China, Thailand, the U.S., Africa, and more. Some of them had years of experience, and that was another huge benefit of the program, she said.
“They shared so much valuable information and all these little tips and tricks and even them just sharing their experiences,” she said. “I don’t need to reinvent the wheel. I can copy, paste, and adjust based on my students’ needs.”
Next Up: More Learning
Telesford started in 2025 as a 9th grade math, business, and project-based learning teacher at an experimental school in Taipei. Her students do a big exhibition at the end of each semester, and Telesford loves guiding them through their projects, watching them learn, and seeing their creativity.
Last semester, Telesford was paired with an art teacher, so the students were tasked with combining business and art. One group partnered with a local community organization and raised money for rescue dogs. Another group created a graphic novel to share information about abuse and resources for people to get help and cope in healthy ways.
When Telesford first started at her school, she was replacing a teacher who had a Ph.D. and years of experience. Initially, Telesford felt daunted to step into those shoes. But now, after completing Moreland’s TEACH-NOW program, earning her certification, and getting some experience, she feels much more up to the challenge. In her most recent review from her students, she got mostly 8s and 9s (out of 10) across the board.
The main thing, though, is that while working in the corporate world was draining for Telesford, teaching is energizing and exciting. It’s about growth and continuous improvement.
She’ll never forget the teachers from her childhood. They gave her their best. They supported and encouraged her to do more. Now, it’s her turn to give her best for the next generation.
Earn your professional U.S. teaching certification in as little as 9 months with Moreland University. Then, you have the option to add on a master’s degree in just 3 additional months.
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