Sheryl Williams Stapleton facts for kids

Sheryl Williams Stapleton (born July 30, 1957) is an American politician and educator. She served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for many years, from 1995 until 2021. She was also a leader in the House, serving as the majority floor leader from 2017 to 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early Life and Learning

Sheryl Williams Stapleton was born in Saint Croix, an island. She grew up in big cities like Chicago and New York City. She went to New Mexico State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education. Later, she continued her studies at the University of New Mexico. There, she received a Master of Arts degree in multicultural education. She also earned a PhD in educational leadership.

Her Work and Public Service

Before becoming a politician, Sheryl Williams Stapleton worked as an educator. She taught in the Albuquerque Public Schools. She also helped manage the Schools to Careers Program. This program helps students prepare for jobs. She was also an assistant principal at the Career Enrichment Center.

In 1994, she was first elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives. This made her the first African-American woman elected to the New Mexico Legislature. She also held important roles within the Democratic Party. She served as vice chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. She was also a member of the Democratic National Committee for New Mexico. After the 2016 elections, her fellow Democratic members chose her for a big role. She became the house majority leader. This made her the first African American majority leader of the New Mexico House.