Episode Details
Back to EpisodesForward Thinking and the Permeation of Values: Dr. Sonny Sherrill, Founder/Superintendent Emeritus of North Raleigh Christian Academy, ACSI NC, SC, VA Field Director
Description
Dr. S. L. (“Doc”) Sherrill founded North Raleigh Christian Academy in 1996, serving as its only Superintendent for 22 years and assisting Dr. Kevin Mathes for 2 years. He stepped down in 2018, honored as Superintendent Emeritus. Under his leadership, NRCA grew to 1478 students, over 1400 for 12 years, and now nearly 1600 under Dr. Mathes.
Doc’s 55-year Christian education career began in 1971 as Youth and Bus Pastor at Neuse Baptist Church. He served as youth pastor, teacher, camp director, and principal at various churches and schools, including Greenwood Baptist, Twin City Christian Academy, Lima Baptist Temple, and Central Fellowship Baptist Church, where he grew the church to 500 and school to 700.
He became Head of School at Temple Heights Christian School in 1990, with 900 students, then returned to Raleigh as Administrator of Friendship Christian School, where enrollment doubled. In 1996, he founded North Raleigh Christian Academy, which grew to 1478 students, and reached nearly 1600 under Dr. Mathes.
Retired in 2018, Sherrill now serves as ACSI Field Director for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, aiding 240 schools. He was Interim Head of Cresset Christian Academy in 2023 and served Bethesda Christian Academy as Interim Head from 2023-2025, overseeing accreditation, program expansion, staff growth, and school finance. He is also a Senior Consultant for NACS and Renewanation and has worked with Herzog Foundation.
A strong advocate for Kingdom education linking family, school, and church, he served as ACSI District 3 Representative for 20 years. He has been president and board member of Joshua Expeditions and the National Alliance of Christian Schools for over 10 years. He consults on governance, accreditation, and curriculum through KingdomEd101, NACS, and Renewanation.
Doc Sherrill has led Christian School 101 seminars for 18 years, establishing 76 schools, and helped create over 300 via SchoolBox by Herzog Foundation.He holds Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Christian Education degrees, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Tennessee Temple University.
Married to Debbie in 1974, they have two daughters, Joy and Jennifer, and four grandchildren. Debbie passed away in 2025.