Berghoudian seeks to build community on campus

Magnet Coordinator Natalie Berghoudian is loving the “tight-knit community” her new school has. 

“It’s such a rare opportunity, especially at a high school level, to know every single student by name,” said Berghoudian, who began working at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School this summer. 

Less than two months into her new school, Berghoudian is already hard at work with a new club and a $1,000 grant: Girls Build LA. The club is an initiative of the LA Promise Fund that empowers young women to change the world through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). She visited classrooms to share her goal and recruit enough girls for a team.

“Our team was selected and that pretty much means that they will be giving us a  $1,000 grant to use throughout the year on our project,” Berghoudian said.

Since STEM is a male dominated field, Berghoudian embraces the girls Girls Build LA message of uplifting young female students.

“I think it comes down from the way I grew up and this belief that girls can’t do the things boys can do,” Berghoudian said. “Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I can’t do what I want to do.”

Berghoudian has been working for Los Angeles Unified School District for 10 years. Before coming to DPMHS, Berghoudian started out as a teacher’s assistant at Fulbright Elementary before becoming a full time teacher. She then worked at John A. Sutter Middle School as a magnet coordinator. 

“I really love how independent and capable high school students are. It’s really refreshing because I’ve only been working with elementary and middle school students,” Berghoudian said. “They’re doing it all, you all inspire me.”

Berghoudian replaces former magnet coordinator Leah Pevar, who left DPMHS at the end of March. Berghoudian is working to increase the number of students at DPMHS. With an enrollment of 227 students, she has to take on a diverse set of responsibilities that are vital for a small school. 

“Some of the things I focus on are enrolling our students, creating brochures and flyers to highlight all the wonderful things that are going on here and getting the word out about our school,” Berghoudian said.

DPMHS is tucked away in between five different schools. Bergoudian hopes to spread the news about the school.

“We’re on Balboa Boulevard sandwiched between all these other schools, and unfortunately parents don’t know we exist,” Berghoudian said

Outside of school, Berghoudian enjoys time with her two kids. 

“I have two toddlers, a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old so I don’t really have time for hobbies,” Berghoudian said. 

Berghoudian wants to make sure students on campus are comfortable and safe, her doors are always open. 

“Know that I’m someone on campus that you can come to,” Berghoudian said. “Hopefully I can earn your trust and you’ll be comfortable sharing anything with me.”