Thank you to all who answered questions related to me getting a Non B visa for teaching from the consulate in Penang. I am happy to report that it was a wonderfully pleasant experience, quick and no surprises. If you have your paperwork in order, Penang is hassle free and so quick.
I will note that for this visa I did need BOTH background checks (FBI bc I am American, and the Thai background check since I was already living in Thailand on a different visa). This was not clear on the checklist but thanks to this group, I learned that I should get the Thai one so THANK YOU!
Also the checklist says to "authenticate" a couple of documents. To do this properly would have taken time and hundreds of dollars so I took a risk and got an affadavit from the US embassy and then a stamp from the Thai MFA. At the consulate in Penang, they did not care about this AT ALL, and gave it right back. The forms submitted as is were enough.
Thanks again, and I highly recommend the Penang consulate. It is also a very beautiful place to enjoy.