A remarkable educator, Sharon Lemmond, has spent more than five decades shaping young minds, and she has no plans of slowing down.
At 77 years old, Lemmond is being honored for her extraordinary dedication to education through her long-standing service in the Houston Independent School District.
Sharon's Story and How She Did It
Lemmond began her teaching career in January 1968, during the era of school integration. Her first assignment was at Field Elementary School, an all-Caucasian school at the time, where she became one of the first Black teachers in the district’s crossover program.
However, her early days were not easy as she was the only black in a white-dominated staff school.
“I would walk down the hallways, and sometimes people wouldn’t even speak. I would say, ‘Good morning,’ and nobody would say anything,” she said.
Despite the challenges, she persevered, determined to focus on her students and her calling.
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Over the years, Lemmond has taught multiple subjects across nearly every grade level. She served for more than 20 years at Whittier Elementary School, where she became a cornerstone of the school community.
“Some of the students I taught in elementary school, I taught their children — and, believe it or not, I’ve taught some of their grandchildren,” she said, recalling how her influence has spanned many generations.
Few educators can say their classroom legacy stretches across three generations of families.
Beyond teaching, Lemmond is also a mother of six and earned a law degree. Yet, despite her legal training, she realized her true passion remained in education.
Today, she teaches Skills for Living and Learning (SLL) to special needs students at Navarro Middle School, n the United States, continuing to pour her experience and heart into the classroom.
Recently, Lemmond was recognized as one of more than 900 long-term employees celebrated in a special milestone ceremony honoring decades of service within the district.
Reflecting on how much has changed since 1968, she notes that collaboration has now improved between teachers and students.
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