BEHIND THE SCENES AT KOLBE: Meet the Dean (Grades 9-12)
Kolbe Academy is proud to have such a talented and hardworking team helping us serve our families. Today we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight and introduce our Dean of Students for Grades 9 to 12, Mrs. Kelly Powers.
Mrs. Powers was born, raised, and still happily resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Steve Powers, and their two fun and math-minded children. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education. She spent several years teaching in a public high school and specialized in helping students being identified for special education services before joining Kolbe in 2013 (when the Online Academy was started). Mrs. Powers has worked hard to not only build the strength of the math curriculum, but also is devoted to enhancing the Kolbe community. During her time at Kolbe, she has taught high school mathematics and computer science, started and ran Kolbe's Got Talent and the Christmas Concert for five years, served as Department Chair, and has now taken her new role as Dean of Students for Grades 9 to 12. She has been the Faculty and Staff winner of the Ugly Sweater Contest every year and is well known for making people smile. Students have come to expect the unexpected when showing up for her classes!
We sat down for a fun Q&A with Mrs. Powers to get to know her a little bit better…
What is your favorite part about working at Kolbe Academy?
This is a REALLY hard question, because I LOVE my job! It is incredibly difficult to just pick one part. The people and the mission keep me coming back every year. A highlight of each year is reading my class rosters and seeing so many family names I already know. Being able to teach many kids of the same family allows me to keep in touch with the families I have grown to love so dearly.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
When I read this question to my husband, he laughed. I don't really have too much "free time". I love what I do, so I don't mind the limited amount of free time it offers me. However, I still fit in four to five miles of power walking per day, the eating of excessive amounts of dark chocolate, and regular family getaways.
Who is your patron or favorite saint and why?
My Confirmation saint is St. Elizabeth because my favorite decade of the Rosary is the Visitation. I feel like taking time for family is essential, and I love the image of leaping for joy when you first come into the presence of Jesus.
What are you most proud of about your time in Kolbe Academy or what is a favorite memory with Kolbe?
It was a deep honor to be asked to be the Faculty Speaker for graduation one year. Each graduation is such a joy and a reminder of what an amazing world we have at Kolbe.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
My wedding reception was at the Waffle House. We attended the sixtieth anniversary celebration they had several years ago, and a radio station put our story on the air!
What has been your favorite place you’ve traveled to so far?
Did you hear about the amazing trip that Kolbe students and the Dean took to Greece and Rome this past spring???
Do you have a special inspiration, prayer or quote to inspire you?
I have a rule that if Albert Einstein or Mother Teresa said it; I'm in. Out of all of them, Mother Teresa's quote about how "it was never between you and them anyway" takes the top prize. The entire prayer hangs on the main floor of our house.
If you had to make up a fun name yourself, what would it be?
There is a Mrs. Powers quote that appears in several student Schoology bios, "When your middle name is Super and your last name is Powers, it is hard to be humble." I don't need to make up a fun name, because I already have a SUPER name!
Thank you, Mrs. Powers, for your service and dedication to the Kolbe curriculum and community. We look forward to many more Ugly Sweater Contests! May the Lord bless you always.
Stay tuned as we continue the fun Q&A’s with this Behind the Scenes Spotlight series!
Mary, our Mother, pray for us.
Saint Maximillian Kolbe, pray for us.
