Teaching from Within: The Power of Identity-Aligned Practice feat. Dr. Tami Dean

Dear Educator,

What if the most powerful tool you have in your teaching practice… is you?

In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re joined by Dr. Tami Dean of Dragonfly Rising to explore the deep and transformative power of identity-aligned practice. Teaching from within isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for sustaining joy, equity, and authenticity in your work.

Dr. Dean shares her journey as a liberatory educator, inviting us to consider how our personal experiences, core values, and lived identities shape the way we show up for students. Together, we talk about how alignment between who we are and how we teach creates more meaningful connections, especially for students who’ve been historically marginalized or misunderstood.

If you’ve ever felt out of sync with your role, your school, or even yourself—this conversation offers grounding questions and practical ways to reconnect with your purpose.

Whether you’re in the classroom, coaching others, or leading change, this episode reminds you:

• Your identity is not a side note. It’s your compass.

Let this be your permission to reflect, reclaim, and realign.

With you in the work,
Laneshia

P.S. Download the companion podcast journal to dive deeper—and give yourself space to process the parts that hit home. The link’s in the show notes.

Learn from and connect with Dr. Dean:

• Awareness Resource 
• Diverse Text Resource
• Webinar Series

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

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