Terea Marcum has been dedicated to education since 2002, beginning her career in pre-kindergarten in North Carolina and earning a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from University of New Mexico with minors in English, History, and English as an Additional Language. She furthered her expertise with a master's in Literacy for Secondary Education from Walden University and completed a second master's in Library and Information Science from University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Her personal and professional educational journey has been driven by a profound sense of wonder, curiosity, and a passion for helping others.

From 2006 to 2012, Terea taught seventh grade in New Mexico and North Carolina. In 2012, she moved to Taiwan for 10 years, where she taught MYP Years 2, 3, and 5, (Grades 7, 8, and 10) and served as a Personal Project Coordinator. Throughout this time, she also cultivated a strong passion for technology.  While being a full-time student is her dream job, in 2022, Terea transitioned to the next best thing: librarianship! In 2022, she became head librarian at a school in Saudi Arabia, overseeing three libraries while creating  seven Makerspaces within each of them, before taking on her current role as the School-wide Librarian and Extended Essay Coordinator in Laos. She values the diverse roles she undertakes and the partnerships she builds with educators and administrators. She enjoys collaborating closely with teachers and creating a welcoming space where every learner feels valued.

In 2024, Terea co-authored a chapter in the book Digital Libraries Across Continents, edited by Le Yang and Alicia Salaz. Her chapter, titled "Navigating Diverse Infrastructure, Multicultural and Multilingual Challenges in International School K-12 Digital Libraries," explores the accessibility and representation of non-Latin script resources in international school libraries, highlighting significant disparities in collection development and circulation. 

Passionate about advocating for diverse books and voices, Terea is committed to showcasing a variety of experiences and perspectives. She strives to create an inclusive and enriching environment, ensuring every learner sees themselves reflected in the stories they read, while fostering empathy and understanding for those from different cultures and backgrounds.