Her Story
About Sheryl
Sheryl Turner began her career in education in 1993 and taught for 20 years in Title I schools, including North Forest ISD and Aldine ISD for 23 years. She transitioned into leadership as a Dean of Instruction at an alternative school and later served as a principal apprentice at a high school in Houston Independent School District. Turner earned a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University, a degree from San Jacinto Community College, and is six hours from completing her counselor's degree at Lamar University. As an instructional leader, she spends her days in classrooms coaching teachers and training administrators to focus on instruction and improve student outcomes. She will become principal at Northside Elementary School in Cleveland ISD in August. Turner is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and participates in her church's community resource fairs that provide legal support, Houston Food Bank assistance, wellness and mammogram checks, and a clothing closet. She attributes her success to tenacity and grace, noting that God as her higher power enables her to handle tough decisions and conversations with love while turning schools around. A principal once advised her that she could do it, which has guided her through challenging roles.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sheryl
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to tenacity and grace. I can't do any of what I do without God being my higher power. Getting up every single day with his grace allows me to go into tough spaces and do tough things, but I do it in grace and love. That grace shines on people when I have to make tough decisions and have critical conversations, and it has helped me turn schools around.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A principal told me, simply, you can do it. And that just meant for me that whatever I had to face, or whatever role I was in, whether it was hard or not, I could do it.
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