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.