Dr. Cassandra Sheriff

Name and Title: Dr. Cassandra Sheriff, Principal

School: Erickson Elementary School

Leader in Me School:

Erickson Elementary is proud to be a Leader in Me School, where we empower students to become leaders of their own learning and lives. This framework, based on Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, integrates leadership principles into our daily curriculum, fostering responsibility, initiative, and goal-setting in every child. It aligns seamlessly with our commitment to student-centered education and transformational leadership.

Educational Inspiration:

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." – William Butler Yeats

This quote reflects my belief in igniting curiosity and passion through inquiry-based learning, fostering student-centered environments, and using data-driven decisions to transform educational experiences. As a transformational leader, I strive to inspire and empower our school community to achieve excellence, especially through initiatives like Leader in Me that cultivate leadership in every student.

I Believe...:

• The goal of education is to support children and their families by providing high-quality education and services.

• High-quality education creates lifelong, enthusiastic learners through inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to ask questions, explore, and discover.

• The role of the teacher is to foster a student-centered learning environment that is safe, secure, and supportive of each individual child’s unique needs and potential, aligning with the Leader in Me principles of personal leadership and responsibility.

• Principals are responsible for creating, nurturing, and maintaining a healthy and productive learning environment by implementing systems thinking to ensure all parts of the school ecosystem work harmoniously.

• Children deserve an equal chance to learn without being prejudged, supported by data-driven decision-making to tailor interventions and strategies for their success.

• Parent engagement is critical, as parents and community members contribute significantly to a child’s achievement and success in school and later in life.

• Knowledge for children is acquired by hands-on learning opportunities that serve the whole child, reinforced by the leadership skills developed through the Leader in Me program.

• Erickson Elementary School exemplifies Young Confident Scholars and Leaders!

Leadership Philosophy:

I am a transformational leader, dedicated to inspiring positive changes in our school community by fostering collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision for student success. My approach integrates inquiry-based learning to spark curiosity, student-centered practices to prioritize individual growth, data-driven decision-making to ensure impactful outcomes, systems thinking to build cohesive educational frameworks, and parent engagement to create a supportive network for every child. As a Leader in Me School, we embed leadership development into our culture, empowering students to take ownership of their learning and future.

Professional Background:

I am delighted to be a part of Ypsilanti Community Schools.

I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work with dynamic leaders and highly qualified staff at Erickson Elementary School.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, working with children and families has always been my passion.

With over 25 years of experience in education, family, and community services, I have a broad background in education and mental health as a teacher, counselor, early childhood program administrator, interim county director, and elementary school principal.

I hold a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University, a Master of Science Degree in Family and Community Services from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Michigan State University.

I am a certified Michigan K-12 Administrator through Eastern Michigan University College of Education.

Personal Life:

I am married to my loving husband, Attorney Omar Sheriff. 

We share three wonderful children: DJ, Jacob, and Kennedy.

When work commitments are met, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, giving back to the community, learning new things, laughing, listening to music, traveling, and singing in the choir as a way to express my creativity and connect with my community church.