Nina Grubbs is approaching her 20 year anniversary with Simpson County Academy (SCA), having started there in 2008. Her title is elementary school secretary, but she is so much more.
Grubbs was a substitute teacher at SCA after her son Robert began K3 in 2004 when she worked part time for Peoples Bank. He is 24, an SCA graduate; daughter Genevieve is an SCA senior who plays volleyball.
“I do a little bit of everything, anywhere from the customer service representative to the parents of the school – to the psychologist, the nurse, the mom away from home.” Also Grubbs is the school liaison for the dance team and girls volleyball.
Grubbs actually began what she calls the “modern era of SCA dance” in 2015, originally named the Pridettes. That gave way to the Simpson County Academy Dance Team, for which she quickly gave credit to the work of the coaches and choreographers to get the job done. The younger dance teams, K5 through 6th grade, are called the Pridettes; Grubbs also sponsors them.
For home football games Grubbs took on the job of announcer during half time performances to give the commentators a break. On occasion she has also sung the National Anthem at the opening of games. She sings at graduation too, unless a student is chosen.
Office co-worker, Records Clerk Tracy Paes, was on hand to help Grubbs remember all the jobs she does for SCA. “I can’t remember it all!” said Grubbs.
Another hat is that of organizer of the Elementary Beauty Pageant, which she has handled since she began. It is the major fundraiser for the SCA Dance Team and typically raises $2,000 after expenses. “It’s worth the time and effort,” Grubbs said.
Paes reminded Grubbs that she assists with nearly all the elementary fundraisers on campus. At one time the responsibility was solely hers but now there is a group, the Cougar Cub Parent organization that is similar to the Parent/Teacher Organization. “Now we have a really great Cougar Cub Parent group that really shoulders the brunt of that. I work with them.”
Grubbs calls herself “a used car salesman” in that she takes prospective parents on tour of the elementary school primarily at the end of the school year and summer months. “I really try to sell myself as much as I do the school because I want them to feel good about sending their kid here—to know hat someone is going to be looking out for their best interests, taking good care of them. I think that is as important as the educational aspect and the Christian teachings we do here. Ultimately that’s what I’m here for, to represent Simpson Academy and make sure everything goes as well as it can.”
Grubbs says her position is very fulfilling. “I love the children. They come in here to me and sometimes they just need a hug from Miss Nina. I treat them like a mom would treat them. Kids can detect when someone really loves them and I tell them when they leave out of this office ‘I love you’ and I mean it. And they tell me they love me.” It is not unusual for her to pray for the students.
Parents have told her that she has a servant’s heart. “This is my mission field. Sometimes we’re the only Jesus some will ever see.”
Grubbs does makes it clear that she is not a one woman show but it takes the entirety of SCA to make the school great. “We have come a long way since I started working here. Everything is pretty high tech. We constantly strive to do everything we can with tuition money that is paid to the school to make it a great learning environment, a great Christian environment, and athletic opportunities for these children.”
She continued, “I love this school. That’s a lot of motivation for all the time that I give that doesn’t fall under my job description. I love this school.”
