Sherry Reynolds-Whitaker

Originally from rural West Virginia, Sherry has spent over 30 years in Illinois, where she has established herself as a seasoned professional in her field. Her transition into education began over a decade ago when she decided to pursue a doctorate in adult and higher education. This decision was driven by her passion for career development, particularly in supporting African American male teachers. 

Sherry teaches CPST 371: Organizational Finance, a course focused on business and finance, where she brings her extensive real-world experience as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to the classroom. Her career has spanned various roles, including working with K-12 school districts across Illinois and serving as a regional consultant for the Illinois State Board of Education.  

“I've been teaching CPST 371 for the last three years. It's been a really great experience. The students are always willing to learn, and they teach me as well. I give them 35 plus background of being in the field.” 

Along with her extensive experience in leadership, Sherry focused her doctoral studies on career development, which has been invaluable in her current work, especially in recruiting and curriculum development for educational programs. 

What Sherry values most about her role at SCPS is the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience with students. These students, many of whom already have established careers or businesses, come to her class eager to deepen their understanding of business and finance. Sherry’s teaching philosophy is centered on the idea that knowledge is most powerful when shared. She is committed to helping her students achieve their goals, whether that means understanding complex financial statements or navigating the intricacies of employee benefits. 

“Whatever I learn, I want to pass it on. I've always been that person. I want to share the learnings because knowledge is power, but it's even more powerful when you can share it.” 

Sherry also emphasizes the reciprocal nature of learning. While she imparts her expertise to her students, she also learns from their diverse experiences, particularly through engaging discussion boards. Her approach is deeply influenced by her own background and her mother’s dedication to missionary work, which instilled in her a lifelong commitment to community service and education. 

In her time at SCPS, Sherry has found a welcoming environment where she can merge her extensive business experience with her passion for education, helping to shape the next generation of leaders in the process.