Tecla Fontenard was born in the south west coast village of Choiseul, Saint Lucia, where she spent her formative years and completed childhood, primary and secondary education.  In 1988, she relocated to the capital of Saint Lucia, Castries, where she has since been based.

Tecla completed studies in Mass Communications (UWI, Mona Campus, 1993) and Television Documentary Making (University of Salford, U.K., 1997).

 Her initial work experience was in the fields of tourism and banking.  But for eight years throughout the 90s, (between 1991 and 1999), Tecla worked in the area of development communication, specifically engaged in cultural advocacy and folk promotions.  During this time Tecla was employed at the Folk Research Centre, first as co-ordinator of a Popular Theatre Programme and later as Audio Visual Production Officer.  During her tenure at the Folk Research Centre, Tecla produced a number of television features, many of which were produced for and aired on the popular Caribbean television magazine called CARIBSCOPE. She also produced an estimated 10 video documentaries, including the award winning documentary, “Ancient Art – A People’s Technology”.

Three years following her postgraduate studies in the U.K., Tecla changed her focus from cultural communication to corporate communications, when she took up a post in the Communications Department at the CARCIOM Secretariat, based in Georgetown, Guyana. During her five and a half year tenure at CARICOM, Tecla worked in public education and promotions on several regional integration issues and CARICOM matters, and had specialized responsibility for television production.  She produced an estimated twelve video documentaries and television features, which were aired throughout the CARICOM region.  Tecla also pioneered the development of the television studio that is now a major part of the functioning of the Communications Unit in the CARICOM Secretariat.

In July 2005, Tecla began her employment with the OECS Secretariat in the post of Communications Specialist on the OPAAL Project.  In this post, Tecla has lead functions in promotions, public education and awareness on protected areas and biodiversity conservation. This includes coordinating all media related activities and other communication initiatives on the activities of OPAAL throughout the OECS region, conducting communications training, developing communication products (e.g. audio/visual materials for workshops and public distribution) and maintaining a working relationship with local/community, national and regional agencies to ensure effective communication and public awareness associated with the various aspects of OPAAL implementation.