Veterans Memorial Patriot Nation welcomes two new faculty members for the 2024-25 school year. Juan Lizalde and Natalie Thomas join the Patriot family as Assistant Principals.
The new administration leaders commented on how smooth the transition has been and how welcoming the students and faculty have been.
“It’s a new beginning, so everything’s new to me: getting into the school, getting lost in the hallway. Now I can help others not get lost,” Juan Lizalde, Assistant Principal (AP), stated.
“I recently got approved to put up some signs for not only me, but for the students as well- especially the freshman. Pretty soon, we should have signs up on both sides of the hallway to help everybody figure out which hallway to go to if they’re lost. If it helps me, it helps students too.”
During Wednesday’s fire drill, as promised, Lizalde had signs to direct students and staff to find the correct area to meet with their class. Within minutes, the staff was able to say they had everyone in the correct area safely and as quickly as possible.
Lizalde’s compassion for the needs of students ultimately reflects on his 16 years of teaching experience. He was also a principal for the South San ISD Summer Academy. He stated that the idea of helping more people than in just a classroom is what brought him to Veterans Memorial.
The other new assistant principal, Natalie Thomas, was also a high school teacher for a period of time. She mentioned that the ability to experience being at all different levels and seeing all the new traditions is what inspired her to apply for a position at Veterans.
“I plan to get to know all the students and faculty and just grow as a leader,” Thomas stated. She also commented on how working at Veterans brought her back to a time of adolescence and her roots.
Students have had a very remarkable first impression, saying that the kind demeanor of both of the new faculty really brightens up the rest of their day.
Be sure to welcome them with a smile when you see them in the hallway this school year. VMHS hopes the best for the new APs as they guide us through the rest of the year.
