Sherry's fight club

Ms. Sherry is the first smiling face you see when you walk through the front doors of Sunset Park Elementary. She’s been a member of the Sunset Park community for many years, walking her twins through the neighborhood to school during their elementary years. It only made sense that she should also work at Sunset Park. That’s where she and I met and during our time working together I got to understand how Sherry lives into her role as secretary, much like Sherry does all things, with her whole heart. While it is true to say she’s the secretary, it doesn’t come close to covering what she does. On any given day she’s a nurse, tending to the sick or hurting kiddos with compassion and love, earning her the nickname “school Mom.” She’s a security guard, the very frontline, greeting parents and making sure that everyone coming through the door should be there in order to keep our school community safe. She’s a therapist who listens intently to the big and small worries, always reassuring with her calm presence and a hug. She’s a consistent support to the staff in doing their jobs, going above and beyond and making Sunset Park feel like a family and a home for the staff and students. Her love comes through every day she walks through the door.

Sherry is also the voice of reason, ready to tell you like it is in a way that helps you reflect and do better. She encourages us and leads with the most caring heart. She holds the community together.

We’ve all seen her care for her co-workers as they experience their own hardship and loss, bringing meals to the grieving or showing up to just sit with people in dark times. All while caring for her own family, being a wonderful wife and a mother to two former Yearlings, cheering for Michael’s football games and Maddie’s track and cross country meets. Sherry is a blessing who takes incredible care of her family and her larger community and now she needs all of us.

Last month our dear friend Sherry was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer and with a team of doctors and her loving family she will be fighting it. This diagnosis requires both chemo and radiation and therefore the cost of fighting, even with the best insurance, is exorbitant and so we hope that you will give what you can to help Sherry, Jeff, Michael and Maddie to alleviate one worry from their minds as they take this on.