Mrs. Natalie Lenz-Acuna

I am privileged, blessed and overjoyed to be your school principal for going on six years.  I am continually excited to work with these amazing teachers, staff and St. Paul family community. Standing on the foundation of those who have worked so hard before me, I realize that I have the best job in the world, that is to lead so to empower children, parents, teachers, parishioners, alumni, and friends of the school to be active partners in providing excellent and innovative education, and to Grow together in Faith, Perseverance and Strength.

I come to you a veteran high school teacher. I have my Master’s degrees in Curriculum and Instruction and in Leadership with a focus on Equality and Social Justice. I possess a Teaching and Administrative credential. I also have extensive training and experience in Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s), Explicit Direct Instruction, Special Education, and Academy leadership. Teaching was my childhood dream, but before I acted on that dream, I worked in the corporate world as a salesperson and owned a 3-dimensional graphic business with my husband for twelve years.  I have attended Catholic School all of my life including St. Mary’s College where I received my B.A in Philosophy and Art, my teaching credential and Master’s in Education degree.

I have been married 30 years to my high school sweetheart and have two wonderful young men. My oldest Alex currently lives in Los Angeles and is a college graduate on his way back to graduate school after working three years as a manager for a non-profit that focuses on social-justice, education in self-advocacy and protecting the underserved. My youngest Julian, is an artist, thinker, volleyball player and cheerleader. He will be a senior this coming year at St. Mary’s College High School. I am blessed for their love and support. I also have two bad kitties and a pet raccoon named Bandit. I love to cook, be mindful and an artist in my spare time.
 
Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.
- Kahil Gibran