Sheila Fiorella grew up in Akron, Ohio, in the Portage Lakes area, and graduated from Coventry High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education: Math and Spanish from the University of Akron in 1986, a Master of Education in Teaching Mathematics from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1992, and a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth in 2007.
Sheila taught Mathematics for 13 years beginning in 1987 at Gateway School, a school for youth with learning disabilities. In 1991 she continued her teaching career in the Arlington Independent School District at Carter Jr. High, Boles Jr. High, and Martin High School. After hearing a call into ministry, she joined the staff of St. Barnabas United Methodist Church, her home church in Arlington, in 2000, as the Director of Education and Children’s Ministry. She continued her ministry there in 2004 as the Director of Education and Evangelism and began leading and preaching in the contemporary worship gathering at St. Barnabas every week beginning in 2006.
Sheila used this valuable experience when she was commissioned as a probationary elder in 2008 and became the founding pastor of New Day United Methodist Church, a new church start, in Mansfield, Texas. She launched a contemporary worship gathering in the Fall of 2009. In 2010 Sheila was ordained an elder in full connection. The greatest joy of Sheila’s new church experience was reaching a diverse group of persons for Christ, 85% of whom had not been involved in a church for many years, and witnessing them mature in their faith.
Sheila has been married to her junior high school sweetheart, Russ Fiorella, for 26 years. They have 2 wonderful children named Russell and Rachel. Russ is employed by the City of Arlington where he serves as an Operations Crew Leader at the Arlington Convention Center. Sheila’s son Russell is a senior at UTA majoring in Anthropology/Archaeology and her daughter Rachel is a sophomore at UTA majoring in Business Marketing.
You can reach Rev. Sheila Fiorella at [email protected]