Her Story
About Sharon
I've dedicated over three decades to both the tax industry and education, with about 30 years in tax and 32-33 years in education. For the past 12 years, I've served as an Administrative Assistant and Office Manager, where I handle key responsibilities including payroll, budgeting, and serving as the right hand to the campus principal. I also serve as our campus fire and safety captain, among several other duties. Throughout my career, one of my most notable achievements has been serving as the district webmaster for Houston ISD. What inspired me to get into education is my love for working with kids and families and being a people person. As for taxes, I've always liked to crunch numbers, so I started doing taxes seasonally about 2 years into working for the district, then eventually started doing taxes on my own. Customer service is one of my favorite things to do, and helping people is at the heart of what I do. I've received awards and honors for program creation, particularly for being in charge of the Black History program on my campuses, and I've earned various certifications through different technology databases as part of my continuing education in both fields.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sharon
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to me being serious about what I want in life, and like I said, being a people person and liking to work with people in different aspects. Education being one of them, working with kids is something I'm passionate about. As far as working with the students and staff and in administration as well, I enjoy all areas of education. Being dependable and being a person that can be counted on is important to me, and just being one that's gonna get the job done as far as what my goals and aspirations are for that particular position.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to stay focused and make goals. Make step-by-step goals if you have to, and then work them out. Always have a plan. This advice has guided me throughout my career and helped me stay on track with what I want to achieve.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to women entering the field of education is that it has to be for the kids. A lot of people get into the field and they're not - they don't have a love for the kids, and you have to have a love for the kids in order to work with them and go through some of the challenges, help them through some of the challenges that they go through in life. If it's about the money, that's not the field you want to go in, in other words. You really need to have that passion and love for working with children to be successful in this field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field right now are the lack of jobs being available and the lack of room for growth. There's limited opportunity to advance in the field, which can be frustrating for professionals looking to move forward in their careers.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are being dependable and being a person that can be counted on. I believe in being someone who's gonna get the job done as far as what my goals and aspirations are for that particular position. And in all that I do, I keep God first - that's the foundation of everything in my life.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Texas
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.