Women's History Month: Leading By Example

Press release from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools:

3/19/2021

March is Women's History Month. For educators and students, the month provides an opportunity to explore and dig deeper into women's contributions, struggles and triumphs throughout history. It is also a time to look at the contributions of women today and in our community.

Charlotte native and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools graduate Dr. Sharon Jones has spent much of her career in a male-dominated field – technology – following a path she said chose her. Dr. Jones' career has ranged from working in the private sector and public and higher education, to establishing the Dottie Rose Foundation and owning thedot., a consulting company. Her foundation and consulting agency's goal are the same, to empower tomorrow's tech innovators to learn to code.

Initially, her dream job was to be a disc jockey. She interned at radio stations using her pseudonym, DJ Sharky Sharon. She hosted an hour-long-midnight show but quickly discovered it was not her passion. However, the connection from the radio world to computers and technology piqued her interest.

Those DJ skills came in handy much later when she launched her weekly education radio show Coding the Future on the VoiceAmerica network in the summer of 2020. The most unexpected tie for her was technology and education.

"I kept boomeranging back to education, which I had run away from because many people in my family had been or are educators. I can trace back our family history to superintendents, teachers and professors. That list includes my mom," said Dr. Jones. "Ultimately, technology led me to education throughout my career."

When Dr. Jones pursued a master's degree in teaching and information technology at East Carolina University, she was the only female in the IT classes. She said there might have been one other woman in her web-development class.

"Technology was something we chose to learn or play with – now its role is central in almost everything we do. That's why it's important to increase girls' technology knowledge. It makes them more competitive," she said.

Dr. Jones' time at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology as a career and technology education coordinator is a memory she speaks of with pride and fondness. Her time there played a central role in her dream of developing her foundation. Now in its fourth year, the Dottie Rose Foundation, named after Dr. Jones' grandmother who was affectionately known as Mama D, focuses on closing the gender gap for females in technology and computer sciences. Many of the girls in her summer programs and workshops are CMS students.

"I love Phillip O. Berry. There is something so special about it. The students were inspiring and helped me grow. They weren't afraid to try, fail and try again," she said. "There weren't many females in the technology courses when I taught there. Much of that is because girls tend to lose interest by the time they are in high school. Those middle school years are where their curiosity needs to be encouraged."

Talazia Moore, a 2014 Berry graduate, said Dr. Jones was one of the technology teachers who encouraged her to become active in the National Center for Women & Information Technology. It offered Moore support and many opportunities, such as navigating college, determining a career path and becoming an advocate by hosting a GidgetGirls summer camp for middle school girls. The program taught the participants computational concepts and principles with a fun flair.

"Our work with GidgetGirls was foundational for what was to come. Dr. Jones' nonprofit continues to reach out to young girls and help connect the dots between technology and real-world application. Each year, I continue to lead GidgetGirls and volunteer at various other summer camps, workshops and after-school programs offered by the Dottie Rose Foundation," said Moore. "As a woman in technology, I am proud to be a part of the great journey Dr. Jones has forged. I will continue to use my platform and resources to combat the inequalities in the technology field."

The collaborations Dr. Jones builds don't stop there. She works with organizations such as Digi-Bridge and Code Ninjas so the girls in her program find their niche, explore it and have ways to pursue it. For Harding High freshman CeCe Wilkinson, the connection to the foundation and its resources has made a difference. She said it allows her to do something she loves while finding her career interests.

Dr. Jones' work has won many accolades and awards. She appreciates the recognition because it lets other women see what is possible. However, the most treasured part of her journey is honoring Mama D through her work.

"My grandmother didn't attend college, but she was a brilliant woman. Mama D's advice was, 'You have to train yourself to make your living.' That always stayed with me. That's why I tell the youth, 'If you can imagine it, why can't you do it?'" said Dr. Jones. "I was told I wasn't good at math, but then I fell in love with statistics and accounting. It's math in a different form. I only needed to find what worked for me. Once it clicks, it snowballs in the best way possible."

This press release was produced by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.