Sheryl James is a counselor at Altus High School. Though she may not teach every day in a classroom, her role allows her to make an impact on the lives of students every day. She has a lot of aspects about her job that she enjoys.

“I love everything about being in education,” she stated. “There is never a dull moment and I’m still learning new things every day.  I was very nervous transitioning from elementary to high school, but I have enjoyed every minute of it and watching them grow and mature into young adults. My favorite part is building relationships with the students, celebrating their successes and supporting them at their sporting events, concerts and stock shows.  Even though there are some challenging times in education, it is the most rewarding job, especially seeing the graduates dressed in their caps and gowns and watching them walk the stage to get their diploma.”

James is in her eleventh year as a counselor at Altus High School. Before that, she taught elementary at Blair School for ten years, fourth grade in Altus for two years, and served as an elementary counselor for four years before moving up to the high school level.

There were a number of teachers that Sheryl enjoyed learning from as a student. But she says there was one who was influential.
“I had a high school teacher, Marilyn McLaughlin, that really made an impact on my life,” she said. “She treated her students with respect, taught with passion, and made learning fun. She had such a kind heart and would take time to listen when one needed someone to talk to.”

In her free time, Sheryl enjoys spending time with her family. She is married to her husband Kyle and they have three sons and a daughter, who is a teacher at Altus High School. They also have eleven grandchildren.