Natalia Mejia
Natalia Mejia is the NCCAT 2023 Empower NC Beginning Teacher of the Year. She entered education with the hope of increasing the diversity of educators in the classroom. An alum of the Honors in Education program and the Cato College of Education at UNC Charlotte graduating Summa Cum Laude, she is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Latin American Studies at UNC Charlotte. She was a two-time participant in study abroad programs to Cape Town, South Africa. This inspired her philosophy of education around Ubuntu, “I am, because we are”. She has co-written two book chapters about her experience and research in South Africa and was the co-founder of the non-profit organizations: 49ers for Puerto Rico and Knit-Together Prana. Natalia teaches ELL students at CC Griffin Middle School. She is currently a Volunteer NC Commissioner and supports AmeriCorp programs and encouraging civic engagement. She also volunteers her time as an Educational Community Council Member for the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity, advising the Flood Center in different community and policy initiatives. Natalia currently lives in Concord, North Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys antique shopping and spending time with her family and her Cavalier King Charles Mercury. She is so excited to be an Ambassador for the Learning Happens Here program to network and learn more about North Carolina.