Born February 24, 1956, in Salina, Kansas, Teree was the daughter of the late Robert and Bessie Caldwell. During her childhood in Salina, she was a talented violinist and piano player, ballet dancer, lifeguard, and was active in Girl Scouts of the USA. After Teree graduated from high school in 1974, she went on to study at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature. She was active in the Spelman Orchestra and Spelman/Morehouse Debate and Forensics Team and served as a student representative to the Spelman College Board of Trustees, and was a Morehouse Cheerleader. In 1978, she pledged into the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority. In 1979, she received her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. She also completed post-graduate studies at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

 

Her first employment opportunity in Iowa was in 1982 as Assistant to the City Manager of Ames, where she took a leadership role in introducing a local government ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. For a short period of time in 1984, she worked as an Assistant to the City Manager in San Antonio, Texas. She returned to Des Moines to be the Executive Director of Metro Waste Authority from 1988 to 1996; from 1996 to 2003, she served as the Polk County Manager. Teree was appointed to the position of President and CEO for Oakridge Neighborhood and Oakridge Neighborhood Services in April 2004, where she worked to provide equal opportunity to thousands of local residents of all ages.

 

Teree was a champion of volunteer community service, which included an election to the Des Moines School Board in 2006 and a re-election to four additional-year terms in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021. In addition, Teree served on the board of directors of the National Civic League, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Capital Crossroads, Polk County Housing Trust Fund, OpportUNITY, Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art and The Directors Council.

 

Throughout her lifetime, Teree made a career of improving the communities of which she was a part through active participation to better systems for persons of all races, ages and orientation. She was tireless in her efforts to raise others to achieve their full potential and create systems to ensure their success. She was truly a dedicated advocate and champion for everyone that calls Des Moines home.

Awards and Honors:

• State of Iowa’s 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Award
• Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice
• President's Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award
• Named a 2022 “Remarkable Woman” by WHO-TV’s Nexstar Media Group
• Iowa Women's Foundation Ovation Honoree in 2021
• Faith and Freedom Community Leader Award in 2018
• A. Arthur Davis Distinguished Community Leadership Award in 2017
• President's MLK Drum Major for Service Lifetime Volunteer Award 2014
• Iowa African American Museum's 2010 History Maker
• Business Publications 2002 Women of Influence
• Black Ministerial Alliance 2002 Leadership Award
• Business Record Best Female Business Leader 2001
• YWCA 1999 Women of Achievement

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