Meet Natalie Marquez
How long have you been teaching for?
I have been a high school science teacher for eight years and have taught Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, and Chemistry. It has been such a privilege to be in the public-school setting during this time and I love how teaching provides an incredible opportunity to meet and work with so many students and families! I am particularly looking forward to the many more students and families I will get to meet and work with at Grace Academy!
What is your favorite class to teach?
While I have enjoyed teaching various science classes, my absolute favorite class to teach is Anatomy & Physiology. The verse that immediately comes to mind is Psalm 139:14, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” While every science course exalts the sovereignty of God in creation, teaching about the design and functions of the human body always leaves me in awe of the infinite wisdom and power of God in how He has breathed life into us and continues to sustain our life in ways beyond what we can comprehend! “What is man that You remember him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:4). There is so much more I could say, but I’ll leave that for the classroom!
What is your favorite part of teaching?
Luke 6:40 “A student is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”
There is such a weight to the words of Jesus in this verse, but one that is an incredible motivation to me as a teacher and displays one of my favorite aspects of teaching. I am so blessed that at Grace Academy I will be able to apply this reality to my life and play a role in the spiritual and educational formation of my students and, beyond that, be able to point students to the greatest teacher, Christ Himself who is the one I want my students to behold, love, and follow.
Who was your favorite teacher as a child?
My favorite teacher as a child was my chemistry teacher Ms. Aguilar who taught with clarity, rigor, and love. She was a Christian in the public-school setting, and I still remember many of her lessons because she taught with boldness and with the proper lens—God as the creator and sustainer of all things as revealed through Scripture! In the Lord’s providence, she was not just my childhood teacher, but after I became a teacher, she continued to teach and mentor me as we became coworkers in the chemistry department! I am thankful to the Lord for her life, and He has used her to shape me as both a student and educator.
What do you look most forward to about teaching at Grace Academy?
I am so excited to be a part of the team that the Lord has brought together to begin Grace Academy. I look forward to getting to know my students, parents, and all the staff who are part of the Grace Academy family! I know we all will get to see the providence of God continue to unfold in our lives and I can’t wait to hear these stories as we grow together this year. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33).