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About the Tearte Family Foundation

The Tearte Family Foundation (TFF) was founded in 2012 with initial funding by Curtis and Jylla Tearte. It is an approved 501c(3) private foundation. The TFF works through partnerships to identify students with academic promise and leadership potential to become Tearte Scholars and receive leadership training, personal development through coaching and mentoring and financial awards to complete high school and pursue post-secondary education, Global Studies, STEM and career goals. Current partners include Brandeis University, Teach for America, 100 Black Men, Howard University, Hallahan Catholic High School for Girls, Posse Foundation, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Curtis H. Tearte, JD

Mr. Tearte is Chairman and Co-Founder of the Tearte Family Foundation (TFF) and a business transformation and technology leader. A retired, 30+ year IBM executive, during his career he served on the IBM Worldwide Management Committee composed of the top 60 IBM executives. He holds a BA from Brandeis University; a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law; and, completed postgraduate studies in Political Science and International Studies at Howard University and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.

TFF partners with educational institutions and organizations to identify underrepresented and first-generation students for the Tearte Scholars program. The Foundation offers scholars leadership training, coaching, mentoring and global experiences along with financial awards to complete high school and/or to pursue post-secondary education with a focus in STEM.

Tearte serves on the Brandeis University Board of Trustees as Vice Chairman and on the University of Connecticut Foundation Board. He is a Director on the Charlotte Merchants Foundation and is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Jylla Moore Tearte, PhD

Crystal Stairs, Inc. CEO
Tearte Family Foundation, COO

Dr. Tearte was one of IBM’s top women executives with more than twenty years of various leadership assignments that spanned the globe. A nationally acclaimed, award winning author, executive coach and consultant, she is recognized for her innovative and insightful work with clients. Her book, Encore Leadership: Transforming your Time, Talent and Treasure into a Legacy that Matters translates into practice the scholarly research of her 2009 dissertation which explored the transition competencies of Black executives. She earned her PhD from Benedictine University, MBA from Indiana University as a Consortium Fellow and her BS in Math from Livingstone College. As COO for Tearte Associates, Jylla is an Encore Leader who utilizes her vast network of community resources to form collaborative, mutually beneficial partnerships. She served as the 20th International President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and instituted The Pearlette Affiliate for girls 4-8 years of age. She chaired the organization’s Centennial Celebration in 2020 to honor the Sorority’s 100 years of service, scholarship and sisterhood. She was awarded the Wallace Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from the Consortium for Graduate Study in 2014.