Published: May 22, 2009 09:46 pm      

NELC Principal Sheila Perry succumbs to cancer

ORANGE — Friday was a sad day in the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District as administrators of the district and staff of North Early Learning Center mourn the passing of Principal Sheila Perry. She was 56.

Perry died at her home in Orange early Friday morning after fighting a lengthy battle with cancer. Funeral arrangements are pending at Colonial Memorial Chapel in Orange.

Although knowledge of Perry’s illness was well-known, personnel never spoke of the matter publicly out of respect for the North Early Learning Center principal.

“The West Orange-Cove school family is very saddened by the passing of Sheila Perry, principal of North Early Learning Center,” said Dr. O. Taylor Collins, West Orange-Cove CISD superintendent, in a statement. Mrs. Perry was a wonderful person and outstanding school leader.”

According to information provided by the school district, Perry served the children of the West Orange-Cove school district for 29 years.

“Mrs. Perry helped educate children of the community as a teacher, a director of special education, and North school principal,” Collins continued. “Mrs. Perry had many times voiced that it was her long held dream to become principal of North Early Learning Center. She was able to achieve and fulfill her dream and serve her school community since February 2001.”

Collins said Perry’s work ethic was second to none as she worked tirelessly to make the North Early Learning Center the best preschool and Headstart program in the state.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Perry family and with the staff of the North Early Learning Center as they face this great loss,” Collins said.



Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter for The Orange Leader. He can be reached at tmann@orangeleader.com or 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619