Sheldon Neal was born and raised in Welch, West Virginia, where the love for education ran deep in his veins. Coming from a long line of high-standard educators, spanning three generations, it was almost inevitable that Neal would follow suit. His grandparents and numerous family members were educators, and they instilled in him a passion for education from a young age. In fact, his grandmother and Aunt Bee were his first-grade teachers, where he learned the joy of learning in a nurturing environment.

However, it was his grandfather, a veteran educator of 42 years, who played an instrumental role in shaping Neal’s career path. An icon in the West Virginia community, his grandfather was respected and admired by all who knew him, and it was this role model who inspired Neal to embark on a career as an educator.

Despite his grandfather’s wishes for him to pursue a career in business, Sheldon Neal knew that education was where his heart truly lay and decided to follow his passion. After graduating from Bluefield State University, a historical black university (HBCU) at the age of 20, he pursued a lifelong career in education, beginning at 21 years old.