Today we’d like to introduce you to Reagan West.
Hi Reagan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I often joke that I’ve never really changed my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’ve wanted to be a kindergarten teacher since I was in kindergarten myself. There was something so special about the joy, creativity, and sense of community that existed in my classroom, and I knew from a very young age that I wanted to create that same experience for children one day.
At the same time, another huge part of my life was all-star cheerleading. I started cheering when I was five years old and spent most of my childhood and teenage years dedicated to the sport. Around the time Instagram was becoming popular, I was fortunate enough to be an athlete on one of the most well-known teams in the world, Cheer Athletics Cheetahs. Our team went on to win the 2012 World Championships, which was—and still is—one of the most prestigious competitions in all-star cheerleading. Because of the visibility that came with being part of that team as well as Cheer Athletics Wildcats, my social media presence began to grow organically.
What started as sharing cheerleading quickly evolved into sharing my everyday life. Over the years, my platform has grown alongside me through different seasons—from athlete, to college student, to teacher, to Dallas resident, and now a soon to be fiancé. I’ve always tried to show up authentically and share the real moments along the way. Looking back, it’s funny that two dreams that seemed completely unrelated—teaching kindergarten and building a community online—have both become such meaningful parts of my life. At their core, both are about connection, storytelling, and making people feel seen.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anyone’s journey is ever completely smooth, and mine certainly hasn’t been. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing two careers that I’m incredibly and equally passionate about. Teaching kindergarten is something I’ve wanted to do since I was in kindergarten myself, and at the same time, content creation grew from a hobby into a business with partnerships, deadlines, and a community that I genuinely care about while both things are very time consuming.
There have definitely been moments where I’ve felt a little like Hannah Montana—living in two very different worlds at once, but getting the best of both. During the day, I’m Miss West, teaching five-year-olds how to read, write, and navigate the world, whereas after school and quite literally every moment in between, I’m creating content, attending events, working with brands, and sharing my life online. Finding a balance between those two worlds and having to wear many different hats throughout the day has been one of the biggest learning curves. There have been seasons when I have questioned whether I could do both well, and learning how to manage my time, set boundaries, and give myself grace has been a continuous process, and it definitely isn’t easy.
Another challenge I have faced has been fitting into the social media mold because my platform has never been just one niche. I don’t only share teaching content, and I don’t only share lifestyle content. My audience has grown up alongside me, so my platform has naturally evolved into sharing exactly that. One day I might be sharing classroom moments on what I like to refer to as KUWTKindergarten: the TEAcher talk, while the next day might be a brand partnership, a Dallas event, or a glimpse into my everyday life with my friends, family, travel, sporting events, etc. For a while, I worried that not fitting neatly into a single category would hold me back, but I’ve learned that authenticity is actually my greatest strength.
Social media can sometimes create pressure to be one thing, but real life isn’t one-dimensional. The people who have followed me over the years have connected with the fact that they’re getting the full picture—not just one carefully curated piece of it. Looking back, the challenges of balancing multiple roles and staying true to myself have ultimately helped me build a community that feels genuine, supportive, and reflective of who I really am.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core, I am just a girl who is a kindergarten teacher by day, and a content creator every other time, but over the years I’ve built a platform where the two have become more connected than people might expect. I specialize in sharing real-life moments through the lens of a teacher, creator, and young woman navigating life in Dallas. My content isn’t centered around one niche—it’s centered around my life. Whether I’m sharing classroom experiences, teacher humor, wellness routines, travel, fashion finds, partnerships with brands I genuinely love, or everyday moments, my goal has always been to create content that feels authentic and relatable.
I think I’m most known for just bringing people along for the ride. My audience has watched me grow from a competitive cheerleader to a college student, then into the classroom, and now into this exciting season of adulthood. I’m most proud of myself in that I’ve never felt the need to become someone else online vs. in real life, what you see is what you get as some would say. In a world where social media often rewards fitting neatly into a category, I’ve built a platform by simply sharing exactly who I am. I often joke that my page and my life is like Hannah Montana’s because it’s a little bit of everything—teaching, lifestyle, relationships, family, friendships, celebrations, and all the moments in between. It’s not a brand I’ve created; it’s my real life.
What sets me apart is the combination of experiences I bring to the table. Not many people spend their mornings teaching kindergarteners and their evenings creating content for thousands of people online. Teaching has taught me how to communicate, connect, and lead with empathy, while content creation has given me opportunities to tell stories and build relationships on a much larger scale. At the end of the day, both roles come back to the same thing: creating meaningful connections with people and making them feel seen, valued, and encouraged.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
My parents tell this story about how when I was just 2 years old, I walked around a restaurant waving hello to everyone who would look at me and say “Hi. My name is Reagan and I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina”. That being said… nothing much has changed other than the fact that I moved to DFW when I was 4. I have always been the girl with the big bow, matching outfit, coordinating accessories, and the bubbly personality to match all of that. I’ve never been afraid to stand out, be extra, or dim my light to fit in.
One thing that has remained constant is that I’ve wanted to be a kindergarten teacher for as long as I can remember. While other kids changed their minds every year about what they wanted to be when they grew up, I was set on teaching kindergarten from the time I was actually in kindergarten. I would make my brother play school with me and give him spelling tests, make him do math problems, and even “check out” library books from our very own playroom.
Outside of school, cheerleading was a huge part of my life. I started all-star cheerleading when I was five years old, and it quickly became more than just a sport—it shaped who I am. It taught me discipline, teamwork, resilience, and how to perform under pressure. Some of my closest friendships and most meaningful memories came from those years. Being part of such a competitive and successful program also exposed me to social media at a young age, which ultimately played a role in the platform I’ve built today.
I’ve always been someone who loves connecting with people and making memories. Whether it was planning themed parties (because lord knows I am never one to pass up a theme and will ALWAYS be the one to go all out), decorating, cheering, or finding ways to bring people together, I’ve always gravitated toward creating experiences. Looking back, a lot of the things people know me for today—teaching, content creation, storytelling, community, and celebrating life’s big and small moments—are really just grown-up versions of the things I loved and did as a kid.
I’ve never been someone who fits into just one box, and I think that’s been true since day one. I’ve always had a lot of interests and passions, and rather than choosing just one, I’ve enjoyed finding ways to bring them all together into a life that feels authentic to who I am.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reaganwest_xo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reagan.west.5
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@reaganwest_xo
