Our people: Legacy of education

My name is Sarah Stubbs. I moved to eastern New Mexico with my family in 1997. My dad was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base before retiring and I had recently graduated from Simon Sanchez High School in Guam. I enrolled at Eastern New Mexico University and have loved Portales since. I am the oldest of four kiddos. My mom and dad instilled the importance of education in me, but I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. After several degrees at ENMU (and being hired at Portales Schools), I finally found where I belonged. I am the finance director for Portales Municipal Schools and love what I do everyday. I am the wife of a tech nerd, Andrew Stubbs (love you baby), the mother of a 13-year-old boy (love you Samuel Marquez) and a 9-year-old girl (love you Lily Marquez). Both my parents work for Clovis Schools, so education is part of my legacy.

What would you do if you won $1 million?

The same thing everyone else would do, pay off all my debt. Student loans, the house, credit cards, I would get rid of it all. Then the finance nerd in me would put 6 months of bills in savings. The rest would get invested.

Tell us about your pets:

I jokingly say I have two dogs, two cats, two guinea pigs and two kids. I also have a 60-gallon fish tank. It warms my heart everyday watching the cats and dogs play every morning.

How did you meet your spouse?

I am also a band geek. I have played the flute since the third grade. (As an adult, I now play in the Clovis Community Band.) My husband is the brother of one of my best friends when I was in band at Bossier High School in Bossier City, Louisiana. We went to school for zero hour band and Andrew was our driver. Poor guy put up with giggly girls every morning. We lost touch after my dad was stationed on Guam and my family moved. We reconnected 20 years later. The rest is history.

What's your idea of a perfect day?

Any and everything having to do with the outdoors. We love to go to Jimez Springs and Estes Park, Colorado. Fishing, hiking, camping, I love it all. When I go on vacation, I love to go places where my cell phone doesn't work. "What do you mean, there's no wifi?", my kiddos say. I say, "you better believe it."

Favorite quote?

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

What does your garden grow?

Everything. My grandfather was a farmer and cattle rancher in Steeleville, Missouri. I learned to grow things at an early age. (I also learned a lot about back breaking work. I can buck bales of hay and sink a fence post.) I have plants in my house that are older than my son.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a fighter for Portales teachers, staff and students. I truly believe that we have the best district in the state. I don't go to conferences at the state level and keep quiet. I make it perfectly known that I believe in what we do every day for all the kids in Portales. We are a proactive district and aren't afraid to try things.

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

Oh baby. The Portales school district would not have to rely on the state for anything. I would also make sure that Roosevelt County would have free access to internet for everyone. We would also actually benefit from the wind turbines in the area. One wind turbine could easily provide electricity to all the houses in Portales, but none of that wind power gets to us. I would definitely change that. Finally, I would bring in a Raising Caines to Portales. Sounds stupid, but I love their chicken.

What do you hope your life will be like in 10 years?

I will be eligible to retire, but I hope that the state invests more into public education. I wouldn't mind working longer if all of our profession were treated like the professionals that they are. I love working for Portales Schools, our teachers, and our kiddos.

- Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman