WHO IS DR. SHERYL KENAN JAMES?

Dr. Sheryl Kenan James is a native Texan who staked her roots in Tennessee nearly three decades ago. Sheryl has over 30 years of experience speaking and teaching which enable her to engage and connect with her audience through humor, warmth, strength, and transparency. Sheryl’s down-to-earth and authentic style of leadership and teaching has impacted countless lives throughout the nation, and her testimony is living proof that with God all things are possible.

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Sheryl is the founder and lead pastor of Destiny Church of Chattanooga (TN), where she is affectionately known as “Pastor Sheryl." Destiny Church of Chattanooga is a non-denominational, breakthrough and progressive ministry dedicated to transforming lives and building God’s kingdom one family at a time. Her life is dedicated to living and leading by example, and encouraging men and women to live life to their fullest potential in Christ.

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Sheryl is an alumnae of Oral Roberts University (B.A.), the University of Texas (M.Ed), and Trevecca Nazarene University (Ed.D.). Sheryl is a career educator, with over 30 years of service in public schools. She is a former elementary school principal and previously served in multiple director positions at the district leadership level for Hamilton County Schools (TN). Currently, Sheryl is an educational consultant, professional development trainer/presenter, and keynote speaker for school districts and K-12 educational conferences throughout the United States. 

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Sheryl is the founder of SHE©, a movement to equip girls and women to be Successful, Healthy and Empowered in all areas of life. With SHE© Girls’ Mentoring, Dr. James hosts empowerment sessions, in the school or community center settings, that focus on self-esteem, life skills, and character education to enhance overall student achievement. The success of the program has yielded amazing outcomes. From the data and success of the SHE© Girls' Mentoring program, Dr. James has recently partnered with schools districts in the Midwest to present the SHE© Girls’ Mentoring Program on a broader level. 

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Another one of Dr. James' passions is serving on the board of Bethel Bible Village (BBV)--Hixson, TN.  Since 2009, Sheryl has been a BBV trustee board member, and she works diligently with BBV's onsite school, Bethel Christian Academy as the education board advisor. 

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Sheryl is a certified life coach through LCTI (Life Coach Training Institute) and IACC (International Association of Certified Coaches). 

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In 2020, Sheryl authored her bestselling memoir, Life Happens. Live Anyway: A Memoir of Survival and Success (Juniper Rockwell Publishers). Life Happens. Live Anyway: A Memoir of Survival and Success is available exclusively on Amazon. To accompany the bestselling memoir, Dr. James got into the recording studio to record  the complimentary single to the bestselling book, “Live Anyway.". The single, “Live Anyway” (Enliven Production House) is available on all digital media platforms.

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Sheryl is married to the love of her life, Mr. Steffron James. Steffron is 22 year US Air Force veteran. After retiring from the military, Steffron began a career in real estate. Steffron is currently a managing broker, real estate developer and investor, general contractor, entrepenuer, international apostle, author and global philanthropist. 

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Together the couple have a blended family that consists of 7 amazing adult children (Beonca, Markus, Adrian, Dairian, Samantha, Sheridan and Darwin), and 3 grandchildren.

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Sheryl and Steffron love spending quality time together, studying the Word of God together, taking long walks, cooking together, catching a good movie, going on a motorcycle ride, watching sports (especially the NBA and NASCAR), traveling, and spending time with family.