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St. Petersburg Collegiate STEM High School

Kateka Riggins

Meeting Kateka Riggins leaves an impression. While her statuesque presence and impeccable style grab attention, her warm smile and welcoming personality are what people remember most.

Known affectionately as “Mrs. Kae,” she serves as the executive administrative assistant at the St. Petersburg Collegiate STEM High School. However, her title only scratches the surface of a life defined by service and reinvention.

Originally a Chicago native, Mrs. Kae moved to Florida more than 20 years ago. A widow and mother of two grown sons, she has worked six years with the College, previously serving as a technology support specialist and a career and academic advisor.

“I was drawn to work within the SPC community because it is the people’s college,” she said. “I love that this college makes education accessible to everyone.”

While her work at SPC is about building futures, Mrs. Kae believes that a life well-lived is one that never stops exploring new passions. When she steps away from her desk, she isn’t just heading home, she’s heading toward her next adventure.

Mrs. Kae has served as a referee for the Sunshine Football Officials Association, as a member of the 40+ Double Dutch Club and a volunteer sports radio broadcaster for 99.1 Jams. She is also an improv student at St. Pete’s Comedy Theater, a storyteller for Suncoast Storytelling and has spent over a decade as a Guardian ad Litem advocating for vulnerable children.

“My hobbies aren’t just things I do to pass the time; they are how I stay connected to my community and how I keep pushing my own boundaries,” said Mrs. Kae. Most recently, Riggins won the 2025 Tampa Bay Fashion Experience, which led her to the runways of New York Fashion Week

“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little girl watching the Ebony Fashion Fair models in Chicago,” said Mrs. Kae.

The experience came with a side of humor, as younger models playfully dubbed her “Ms. AARP.”

“I was wearing too much Biofreeze and they asked what the smell was,” Riggins laughed. “I explained that I needed it for my aches. Being a mature, plus-size model comforted them because I’m old enough to be their mother; therefore, I’m not an industry threat!”

Mrs. Kae is a prime example of living life to its fullest. Whether she is officiating a football game, walking a New York runway or helping a student buy prom tickets, Kateka embodies the spirit of SPC. She is a reminder that our roles at work are just one chapter of a much larger, more vibrant story.