At any given time, you might find one—or a few—students gathered in Mrs. Erica Sims’ office, asking questions and getting personalized help with specific academic concepts. Whether it’s reading support or advanced math challenges, Mrs. Sims is always ready to assist her Learning Enrichment Center students throughout the school day. Her upbeat personality and genuine care for students make her an incredible encouragement to everyone she works with.
Mrs. Sims is no stranger to education. This is her 14th year in the field, including several years in coordination and administration roles. This year, she’s back in a classroom setting, co-teaching the College Success class for SCA juniors. In this important and practical course, students have created résumés, conducted interviews with community leaders, and even learned how to change a tire!
Mrs. Sims is truly a blessing to our school, and we’re so thankful she and her family are part of the Sherwood Christian Academy family!
EDUCATION: Bachelors in Special Education from Georgia Southwestern
Masters in Special Education from Liberty University
Masters in Educational Leadership from Albany State University
Instructional Coaching Certification
YEARS LEADING IN EDUCATION: I feel like I have done a little bit of everything! This is my 14th year in education. The majority of those years have been in middle school; however, I taught first and second grades for a few years as well. I was also a Curriculum Coordinator for two years. This is my second year at SCA and my first year as LEC.
CAREER AWARDS: I was the Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2021-2022 at Georgia Cyber Academy. I went on to become the Teacher of the Year for the entire district.
TELL US ABOUT THE LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER – WHAT IS IT AND WHO IS IT FOR? SCA is really blessed to have the Learning Enrichment Center, and I am so thankful to be a part of it. I have the opportunity to work with students with learning differences. This can look like many different things including: reteaching tough concepts, small group testing, presenting classroom material in a different way, and collaborating with teachers to find solutions that will aid students in the classroom.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT LEADING THE LEC: This position allows me to spend more time with individual students. Because of this, I get to know them pretty quickly and I get to see their lightbulb moments when they grasp a new concept. That is probably the most rewarding part of my job!
FAVORITE HOBBY: I love to bake! My daughter has recently started baking with me, which has been so much fun.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: I have visited a few interesting places in my life; however, my favorite was the last time my family visited Disney in 2023.
FAVORITE BOOK: “To Kill a Mockingbird”
FAVORITE SNACK: I am a fan of chocolate in any form!
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? A famous singer.
WHY DO YOU THINK CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL? Christian education is important to me because I’ve seen firsthand the impact it can have on a child’s faith and character. Before I ever became an employee at SCA, my husband and I chose this school for our own children because we wanted them in a Christ-centered environment. Last year, during Spiritual Emphasis Week, I truly saw the fruit of that decision. The older high school students partnered with our middle school students, shared their testimonies, presented the gospel, and confidently answered every question they were asked. By the end of the session, several students had accepted Christ. I was amazed by the boldness and spiritual understanding these high school students demonstrated. It was clear that SCA had equipped them well to defend and live out their faith. Seeing that affirmed just how meaningful a Christian education truly is.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY AT SCA? My favorite moment at SCA was when I attended my first chapel. I could not believe that it was a part of my job. It was so unlike anything I had ever done at work, and I was so incredibly grateful for it. I pray I never forget the gratitude of that moment.