Alliance for Catholic Education
At Nativity Academy at St. Boniface in Louisville, Kentucky, students are formed for lives of purpose, possibility, and hope.
As a Catholic middle school serving students in grades 6 through 8 from families for whom tuition is the only barrier to accessing a Catholic education, Nativity is committed to developing the whole child and providing a foundation for a life without limits. Through a rigorous academic program rooted in faith, the school seeks to impart spiritual ideals, moral values, discipline, and character formation that extend far beyond the classroom. Guided by its core values to Strive, Overcome, Achieve, and Respect, Nativity accompanies students not only through middle school, but through high school and beyond.
For Meghan Weyland, President of Nativity Academy, this mission is deeply personal, shaped by a calling and a connection that has come full circle.
A Notre Dame Connection That Endures
That story begins with Sister Paula Kleine-Kracht, the founding and longtime leader of Nativity Academy.
Sister Paula’s connection to the University of Notre Dame began in the 1970s, when she earned a master’s degree in mathematics through a program designed to support religious educators.
“She always carried that Notre Dame spirit with her,” Weyland said. “She would talk about her Notre Dame friends, and those relationships stayed with her for life.”
That formation shaped her leadership and sustained her vision as she guided Nativity through its earliest and most challenging years, often relying on deep faith and the generosity of others to keep the mission moving forward.
“She could see what we are experiencing now,” Weyland said. “Even on the hardest days, she remained committed because she believed in what this school and Nativity students could become.”
Through faith, perseverance, and a deep trust in God’s providence, Sister Paula built more than a school. She built a community rooted in hope.
A Journey Shaped by ACE
Weyland’s own path to Nativity began through the Alliance for Catholic Education, where she served as a Teaching Fellow in Brownsville, Texas.
“It was a deeply transformative experience,” she said. “It was the first time I encountered teaching as a true vocation grounded in faith and service.”
During her time as an ACE Teaching Fellow (ACE 13), she was placed at a NativityMiguel model school, an experience that would quietly shape her future.
At the same time, her future husband, Kent, also an ACE Teaching Fellow (ACE 12), had returned home to Louisville and encouraged her to consider making the move after graduation. When she visited in 2008, she met Sister Paula and encountered Nativity Academy for the first time.
“I was so in love with the Nativity model,” Weyland said. “It just sealed the deal.”
Just two years later, Sister Paula invited her to consider a new role, this time as principal at only 26 years old. Nativity also supported her participation in the Remick Leadership Program.
“Remick was a profound formation experience for me,” she said. “It shaped me not just as a leader, but as a person.”
She added, “Without that spirituality component, it all falls apart. In the toughest moments, that is where you go.”
Weyland served as principal for five years before stepping away to focus on her growing family. After a decade at home, while continuing to stay connected to Catholic education, she was invited to return to Nativity, this time as President.
Growing Into a Mission
Nativity’s journey has been one of steady growth through challenge, guided by faith and a deep commitment to its students.
From its early years of building and uncertainty, the school has grown into a stable and thriving community. Today, enrollment is rising once again, from 46 students to an expected 60 or more next year, with the capacity to serve even more in the future.
“It is an easy product to sell,” Weyland said. “When families see what this community offers, they want to be part of it.”
A Mission That Transforms Lives
Nativity Academy provides a rigorous, faith-based education to students who might not otherwise have access to a Catholic school.
Since its founding, 97 percent of Nativity students graduate from high school, and 82 percent go on to enroll in college or post-secondary education, exceeding national averages and reflecting the strength of the school’s long-term support model.
“We now have graduates who are in medical school, who are lawyers, who are coming back to volunteer,” Weyland said.
Students transition to Catholic high schools across Louisville, where they receive continued academic and personal support that opens doors for their futures.
“The benefits of a Catholic education are well established,” she said, “but they are exponential for students whose only barrier was access.”
Carrying the Mission Forward
When Weyland returned to Nativity as President, one of her first actions was to call Sister Paula.
“I told her I was sitting in her chair,” she said. “It was a profound moment.”
Reflecting on Sister Paula’s legacy, Weyland shared, “I am so humbled that she did this for so long.”
Sister Paula passed away on October 31, 2025, leaving behind a profound legacy of faith, courage, and unwavering commitment to Catholic education.
Today, Weyland carries that legacy forward with both gratitude and purpose.
“I feel a deep responsibility to continue what she started,” she said. “She built something so special, and now it is our turn to carry it forward.”
Looking ahead, she is filled with hope for the future of Nativity Academy.
“There is so much more to come,” Weyland said. “We are growing, we are strengthening, and we are continuing to serve the students and families who want this most.”
In that spirit, the mission of Nativity Academy continues to flourish, grounded in faith, shaped by formation, and carried forward by those called to serve.