State Board Candidate Sets Out To Defy Expectations

By Joetta L. Sack

When Nannie Abbey Marie Sanchez was in school in her hometown of Albuquerque, N.M., some people told her she had a choice of only three careers: fast-food worker, janitor, or "planting flowers."

Ms. Sanchez defied those expectations and recently became the first person with Down syndrome to graduate from a business-administrative-assistant program at a local community college.

Now, she wants to improve educational opportunities for other students with disabilities. On June 2, the 23-year-old will compete in the Democratic primary for one of three open seats on the 15-member New...