Southern Guilford’s Natalia Fagundez ’25, Spartan inspirational educator

In her first year as an exceptional children’s teacher at Southern Guilford High School, Natalia Fagundez ’25 works to help students advance their math skills.

While at UNCG, Fagundez – who majored in special education with minors in American Sign Language and Spanish – was the recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Teacher Education Fellows (now Spartan Education Scholars).

She was among the students recognized with the inaugural School of Education’s Student Excellence Award. That award was created through donations given to the school’s Inspirational Educators initiative, begun during UNCG’s Light the Way campaign.

More than 220 individuals have given to the program, where donors may honor those teachers who had meant the most to them.

Fagundez recognizes that without donor support, many students would not be able to follow their dreams of becoming an educator. She says, “It’s inspiring to know that there are still people who believe so strongly about education and its values. It’s a reminder to me to keep going and to keep doing my best.”

Looking back at her own journey, Fagundez thought about a mentor at Holly Springs High School who she did not even have for class, but who made an effort to get to know students. This teacher’s ability to lift them and support them, both academically and personally, is something that Fagundez hopes to emulate.

By Chris Rash