Sharon Derrington
Sharon Derrington is a dedicated Site Coordinator with Communities in Schools, currently serving at Goliad High School within Goliad Independent School District in Goliad, Texas. She has worked at this high school for the past four years and has been involved in student support services for approximately five to six years in total. In her role, she supports a caseload of around 100 students, serving as an additional set of eyes and ears for teachers and staff while helping identify and address barriers that may impact student success. Her work centers on improving attendance, behavior, academic performance, and college and career readiness.
Sharon is deeply committed to meeting the whole needs of her students. Many of the young people she serves are considered high-risk, and she works closely with them to encourage persistence, accountability, and personal growth. She assists with a wide range of needs, from academic and behavioral support to transportation challenges and other day-to-day obstacles that can prevent students from fully engaging in school. Her office is intentionally stocked with snacks and basic necessities, ensuring students have a safe and welcoming place to go when they are hungry or in need of support.
Before her current role, Sharon spent approximately six years working directly with the homeless population, providing outreach and assistance in the community until she stepped away following a dangerous situation with a client. Earlier in her career, she gained experience in human resources at a mental health facility in Victoria and also worked in medical office settings supporting physicians. Across all of her professional experiences, she has remained committed to service, compassion, and advocacy. Sharon is known for her unwavering dedication to helping others and often shares that she would continue this work even without compensation because of the impact it has on students and families.
• Texas Notary
• Homeless Coalition Committee (former treasurer)
• Working with homeless population
• Bach Festival in Victoria
• Making sack lunches for homeless individuals
• Keeping supplies for homeless in car trunk
• Supporting unhoused students
• VICTORIA AREA HOMELESS COALITION INC
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to discovering my true purpose through service. About eight years ago, following Hurricane Harvey, I began volunteering to support people experiencing homelessness and others in crisis, and that experience profoundly shaped my perspective. I found deep fulfillment in helping meet basic human needs whether providing a meal to someone who hadn’t eaten in days, restoring utilities for a family in hardship, or supplying clothing for someone preparing for a job interview. Those moments of service grounded me and made me realize how much I had previously taken for granted. Each opportunity to help others reinforced my gratitude, humility, and sense of responsibility. Since then, I have remained committed to serving others in any way I can, and I genuinely find joy and purpose in ensuring that people receive the support they need.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find a career that you think you really want to do, and that you would probably do for free, like I told you, I would do this for free if I could. Just find something that you really love to do, and go for it.