Is Showing Up Authentically the Most Powerful Teaching Tool? with Keke Powell

What does it take to truly show up for your students? Rick and Tisha sit down with Keke Powell — award-winning educator, costume enthusiast, and former collegiate soccer player — for a conversation that's equal parts hilarious and deeply inspiring.

From rocking over 100 classroom costumes to building a travel community called the Ina Fam, Keke brings the same energy she had on the soccer field into everything she does. She talks about building real community in the classroom, navigating technology and digital citizenship with young learners, and what it actually means to trust yourself as a teacher — especially when you're just starting out. Plus: rapid fire questions, classroom jobs, and a dream of becoming Texas Teacher of the Year.

If you've ever wondered whether being your full self in the classroom is too much — this episode is your answer.

00:00 Introduction and Disney Theme
02:02 Introducing Keke Powell
04:49 Keke's Soccer Journey
08:59 Dressing Up in the Classroom
15:00 The Importance of Fun in Learning
19:55 Bridging Soccer and Education
22:50 Building Community in the Classroom
25:47 Navigating Technology in Education
26:13 Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy
29:41 The Importance of Community and Travel
34:22 Traveling with Friends: The Ina Fam
38:03 The Journey of an Influencer
43:34 Future Aspirations in Education
44:22 Finding Your Path in Education
46:34 Advice for New Teachers
49:39 Fun and Chaos in the Classroom
51:22 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights
01:00:30 Teacher Habits and Student Leadership

About Keke PowellWith a decade of experience, Keke Powell is an award-winning educator who has taught students in Hawaii and Texas across grades 2 through 5. Currently, she teaches second grade at Sunfield Elementary School in Buda, Texas, where she fosters creativity, curiosity, and kindness in her classroom. Keke was honoured with the Alliant Group Spark Award for Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher, recognised as an H-E-B Excellence in Education Rising Star Finalist, and received the Leaders of Tomorrow Award from TSTA. She loves to bring the energy and fun into her classroom.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspowellteaches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mspowellteaches/
X: www.x.com/mspowellteaches

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