At Altus High School, counselor Sheryl James is a familiar, reassuring presence for students in grades 9 through 12. For the past 13 years, she has served Altus as a high school counselor, guiding students through academic decisions, personal challenges and plans for the future. Her work at Altus is part of a 29-year career in education that began in the elementary classroom. The first decade of her journey was spent teaching at Blair School, her alma mater, where she built a foundation in helping young learners grow.

James chose education because she loves working with kids and wanted to nurture a genuine love of learning. Her approach centers on modeling integrity, respect, empathy and responsibility, values she encourages students to demonstrate each day. As a student herself, she was strongly influenced by junior high and high school teacher Marilyn McLaughlin, whose caring nature and positive example left a lasting impression. McLaughlin’s classroom was a place of kindness and respect, and James carries that culture into her own work with students.

Building relationships is the part of the job James enjoys most, and seeing students succeed in all their endeavors is her greatest reward. She often shares one key piece of advice: everyone makes mistakes, but owning them creates an opportunity to learn and grow. That message resonates in counseling sessions where students are learning to navigate both school and life. Beyond campus, James finds joy in time spent with her husband, Kyle, an owner-operator truck driver, their children and a growing family of grandchildren. She loves being outdoors and treasures the moments when the entire family is together. For the students of Altus High School, James offers steady guidance, a listening ear and a clear belief that every mistake can lead to a stronger, more confident future.