Stories from Scott 2
Your story matters. You matter.
November 17, 2016
SHS FACS teacher uses life experiences in the classroom
When Stephanie Nussbaum runs, she does not have to think about being a mother of triplets, about being the new family and consumer sciences teacher at Scottsburg High School, or about being an accomplished runner and marathoner.
“Running is my stress reliever,” Nussbaum said. “I’m not a teacher. I’m not a mom. I just get to be me. It’s my outlet.”
When the running stops, Nussbaum returns to her roles as a mother, educator, and athlete. Each step she has taken in her life has led her to where she is today as Scottsburg High School’s new family and consumer sciences teacher.
About six years ago, she received the “surprise of a lifetime” when she found out about halfway through her pregnancy that she was expecting fraternal triplets. At the time, Nussbaum and her husband were just a family of three with a 2-year-old daughter.
“We cannot find a genetic link,” Nussbaum said about having natural multiples.
The triplets were born early, which is common in the gestation of multiples, and she spent about one month in the hospital. Nussbaum delivered two girls and one boy.
“They were extremely healthy. We couldn’t have had healthier premies,” Nussbaum said.
After Nussbaum brought home the three babies, it took several months for her and her husband to adjust to their new way of life of four children under the age of 2.
“After seven months, we figured it out. I was lucky to get three hours of sleep in 24 hours — that’s not consecutive,” Nussbaum said.
Her experience as a mother helped shaped her teaching career of 10 years. At SHS, Nussbaum teaches child development.
“Child development probably hits close to home because it’s such a personal journey. I have so many personal experiences,” Nussbaum said.
Along with raising children, Nussbaum has experience outside of education, in the business world. She spent time as an assistant buyer for Madison Chemical, taking a break from education after eight years of teaching. As an assistant buyer, Nussbaum would help with the development of a website; purchasing products for clients in the food-plant sanitation, craft brewery, metal application, car wash, or wastewater treatment industries; and working with the sales department.
“It was a wonderful experience,” Nussbaum said.
But, she missed teaching.
“I missed student interaction and being in the classroom,” Nussbaum said.
Even though Nussbaum returned to the classroom, it did not stop her from working in other industries during the summer months or other days off.
“I’ve held up to six jobs at a time,” Nussbaum said about her life. “For five years, I worked in catering at The Livery Stable. It was a good balance.”
To keep her balance, Nussbaum goes back to what she has been doing since she was eight — running. Growing up, she began running in road races and continued running through college at Bluffton University, a Christian liberal arts college in Ohio. She said she holds several records in running with two outdoor and two indoor records and is a member of the Bluffton University Hall of Fame. She also played tennis while at Bluffton.
After college, Nussbaum did not stop running. Last year, she completed her first marathon in less than four hours. The marathon, which was held in Columbus, Ohio, benefited a children’s hospital. At each mile marker, a child with a long-term need was there to cheer on the runners.
“I’m not getting any younger,” Nussbaum said about why she transitioning from a half-marathon to a full marathon. “My training was going pretty well.”
At Scott County School District 2, Nussbaum’s story is our story. Your story matters. You matter.
Vienna-Finley provided more than education for Powers
At Vienna-Finley Elementary School, a third-grade student, Jeramy Powers, was mesmerized when he saw her at an ice cream party. The girl’s second-grade class won an ice cream party, and Powers was a member of the student council, who was helping serve the cold treat to the students.
“I was excited to go to her class,” Powers said.
Powers said he told the girl, Tristen, she was “cute.” Instead of swooning, Tristen reacted as many second-grade girls respond to boys at this age — she pushed him.
“I told her she was cute, then she pushed me down,” Powers said with a laugh.
The two remained friends, but things soon changed when Tristen was in fifth-grade. She and her family moved to another school in Oldham County, Ky., Powers said. He was sad, but he never forgot her.
As the years passed by, Powers attended Scottsburg High School. He was a member of the Band of Warriors, playing trumpet and the baritone.
“I was a big band geek in high school,” Powers said.
He also found a love of science while at SHS.
“A lot of things started clicking. I had Mrs. Lizenby in high school,” Powers said, crediting Lizenby as one of the teachers who helped him discover the wonder of science. “I liked science. It’s something I’ve always been good at and enjoyed. I wanted to share that passion with other people.”
After graduating from SHS, Powers attended Indiana University Southeast to become a high school science teacher. It was during this time, Powers found a new hobby — photography.
“I like it. It’s equal parts artsy and science,” Powers said.
His hobby turned into a job, allowing him to work while he attended college. He took photographs of weddings, family portraits, senior pictures, and holiday snapshots.
“My mom bought me a camera for Christmas,” Powers said about getting started.
Amid photography and studying to become a future educator, Powers was scrolling through Facebook one day and saw her — the girl he never forgot. He found out she liked science and wanted to be a nurse. He, too, loved science and wanted to share his passion for the field with future generations of students.
“We found each other on Facebook,” Powers said with a twinkle in his eye. “I thought she was cute back then.”
The two rekindled their friendship. Then, the friendship turned romantic, and the two were engaged after a year of dating. They married in 2014.
Nearly one year after being married, the couple found out they were expecting their first child. Thinking back on how they came to this point, they decided on the perfect name for their infant daughter: Finley. Their daughter was named after the place where they began their journey together at VFES.
About six months after Finley’s birth, Powers received an email from Lizenby, his former high school teacher. The email was about an open position in the science department at SHS. He applied for the position, was ultimately hired, and left his teaching position at East Washington School Corp.
“Science just makes sense to me. It’s universal,” Powers said. “I always wanted to come back here. It was my end goal.”
At Scott County School District 2, Powers’ story is our story. Your story matters. You matter.