Our people: Proud mom of thousands

My name is Shelly Norris. I moved to Clovis from the Ft. Walton Beach/Destin, Florida area along with my twin brother Michael and my family when I was 17. I was raised as an Air Force brat, lived all over the world and attended approximately 17 different schools from nursery school through graduate school. I married my Clovis High School sweetheart, Layne Norris. I am a super proud mother of two incredible sons, Austin and Spencer Norris. I also claim approximately 3,000 additional children, whom I've had the blessing of serving as their principal since 2001 at The Arts Academy at Bella-Vista. I have a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

What would you do if you won $1 million?

I would form a random act of kindness team who would take possession of the funds. Their objective would be to go out into the community and anonymously provide as many people with joyful experiences as they could to see how far the funds would stretch. This might include paying for someone's groceries in the grocery line, picking up the tab for the people behind you at a fast food restaurant, paying someone's doctor bill, sponsoring a class field trip, etc. The ultimate goal would also be in hopes that this would serve as a catalyst for a trickle-down effect, whereas the recipients would do the same in return for others.

How did you meet your spouse?

In 1982 I was working at McDonald's on Mitchell Street (when the uniforms were brown and orange.) I had just moved to Clovis from Florida. Layne came in with a group of friends. They ordered a lot of food and wouldn't leave. Not long after that time, we went on our first date. He showed up at my front door with a bottle of Epris perfume by Jaclyn Smith. We saw the movie "Endless Love" and went for after-movie dessert, consisting of apple pies and cokes at Burger King on Prince Street. I was sold! The rest is history. By the way, it's still an Endless Love.

Tell us about a time you cried.

I typically cry when I hear the traditional versions of "The Star Spangled Banner" or "America the Beautiful." I almost always cry when I hear songs such as "Amazing Grace," "I Can Only Imagine," and "Because I Knew You," from the musical "Wicked." Additionally, years ago I literally "ugly cried" at the ending of the movie "Titanic," so terribly that I didn't want to leave the movie theater until everyone had exited. (I still cringe at the thought of that experience.) In a nutshell, songs about life as a child of God and the blessing of being an American often give me a giant lump in my throat, send chills down my spine and move me to tears.

What's your idea of a perfect day?

Rain, sleet, hail, sun, or snow, at home or on holiday, any day spent with my family is a perfect day.

What is your theme song?

"Joy to the World." Not the Christmas song, but the simply written, 70's hit by Three Dog Night that many of us refer to as "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog." The repeated lyrics, "Joy to the world, all the boys and girls," is still completely relevant in that the song's overarching message reminds us of the importance of true joy.

If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?

I would create a joyful and peaceful world, where everyone loved their neighbor as themselves, where people didn't dissolve critical relationships fighting over topics pertaining to politics and religion and where everyone put the best interest of children at heart.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I had three primary career goals. The first was to work as an acrobatic mermaid in a tank at Marine World in Destin, Florida. My second goal was to work at Disneyland as either a cast member, preferably Snow White, or running one of the rides, preferably Space Mountain. My third childhood career goal was to train dolphins at Sea World. However, I had a terrific back up plan. I decided that if any of the above mentioned gigs didn't work out for me, then I would be either a pediatrician or a zoo keeper. As life would have it, I became a school principal. (Best decision ever!) So, overall, I kind of chose a career field where I got to create kind of a hybrid of all of those roles.

What are you reading?

I am more of a "skimmer" rather than a chapter-by-chapter reader. Currently on my desk and on my nightstand there is an assortment of literature, including "Driven by Data," "The Moral Imperative of School Leadership," "Paula Dean's Cookbook" and the Bible. There are also periodicals, including Garden and Gun Magazine, Coastal Living and Romantic Homes.

How would you like to be remembered?

As an incredible mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend who always put others before self.

Favorite quote?

"Nothing without joy." I didn't coin this phrase, but I adopted this phrase as my personal mantra in 2001 after reading an excerpt from Italian early childhood expert Loris Malaguzzi. He reminds us that true learning, both for children and adults, cannot occur without the presence of joy.

If money were no object, what would you do to make eastern New Mexico a better place?

I would love to see the people of eastern New Mexico research a variety of some of the most aesthetically beautiful small towns across the nation. We could then in turn apply some of those ideas, pioneer some of our own ideas, capitalize upon the natural beauty of eastern New Mexico, share resources and work as communities to become a collection of eastern New Mexico towns that put us on the map of beautiful small towns across America.

What's the best gift you've ever given? Received?

The best gift I have ever given is the gift of life and love to my sons. The best gift I have ever received is the gift of hope of eternal life, provided freely by God, when he gave his only begotten Son.

- Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman