As an undergraduate math major, Natalie Meiguez always dreamed of climbing the corporate ladder and leading boardroom strategies from her corner office. Years later, she traded her boardroom dreams for the classroom and is now being honored as the Fulton County Schools 25-26 Teacher of the Year.
Her journey is far from traditional, and it all began with a lunch conversation with her best friend, a middle school teacher. Teaching had not even been on Natalie’s radar until her friend spoke about leading a struggling student to the “aha!” moment in one of her lessons. This conversation sparked something in Natalie: a dream for a new career that mattered long term—one where she could find fulfillment and success measured in student confidence rather than quarterly profits.
Although she had no experience in education, Natalie worked tirelessly, balancing her full-time job with taking night classes in Middle Grades Education at Brenau University. Following long days of corporate meetings, she studied lesson planning and classroom management at night, sometimes leaving school at 9 p.m., “exhausted but energized,” she says.
Since then, she has taught sixth and seventh grade math and algebra—her favorite subject to teach—and mentored academic coaches who lead high school geometry and pre-calculus. Currently, she teaches algebra to ninth graders and college readiness to 10th grade students. Math can be a daunting subject for many students, but Natalie’s approach to teaching creates a thriving learning environment. In her classroom, mistakes are celebrated, and lessons are crafted for real-world connection. She even designed a project where students applied geometric concepts to create a blueprint for their city of College Park.
Through the most challenging days she’s faced as an educator, Natalie has learned to appreciate the small wins.
“Students deserve teachers who will not give up on them,” she says.
It’s not just what she teaches that matters—it’s how. Empathy and building genuine relationships with her students are at the heart of her classroom, and that extends far beyond the complex algebra problems she teaches. One defining moment of her career came when a once-struggling student told her, “I couldn’t have done it without you. You’re the best math teacher ever!”
Natalie’s impact transcends the classroom into the Fulton community. From attending extracurricular events to coaching sports teams, Natalie continues to show up for students as a partner in her community.
“I believe that when we invest in our community, we create more opportunities for our students to succeed both in and out of school,” says Natalie.
While Natalie humbly accepts the honor of Teacher of the Year with gratitude, she knows this is not the finish line—it is a call to her continued leadership. She will continue to choose patience over frustration, uplifting her students and remaining a leader within her community. Natalie’s bold decision to change careers ultimately became a choice to change lives. Congratulations, Natalie!