Find out how Sheree earned five promotions and built expertise across tech, counseling, and Salesforce despite degree discrimination and layoffs.
Sheree always knew she wanted to teach. But after high school, she was encouraged to pursue a more financially secure path, setting her on a career journey that took her through insurance, social services, workforce development, and technology before ultimately bringing her back to education. Today, Sheree is an educator and student support administrator in Oakland, California, where she helps students see possibilities for their futures while creating spaces where they feel supported, challenged, and valued.
Along the way, Sheree built her career through alternative routes—community college coursework, professional certifications, on-the-job learning, and years of hands-on experience. She earned licenses in insurance, became a subject matter expert in county government, led process improvements that strengthened workforce programs, and later trained as a Salesforce Administrator. Yet despite her accomplishments, she repeatedly encountered the paper ceiling. In one pivotal moment, she was passed over for a promotion she was qualified for because she did not have a bachelor’s degree. Rather than letting those barriers define her, Sheree continued investing in her skills and seeking opportunities to grow.
Her breakthrough came when she accepted a role supporting students at a local high school, reconnecting with the purpose that had inspired her from the beginning. She later earned a Career Technical Education credential and became a classroom teacher, drawing on the diverse experiences she gained across every stage of her career. Today, Sheree helps young people recognize their own strengths and potential while advocating for a future where skills and experience matter as much as credentials. As she puts it, “There is no such thing as wasted experience—every step builds the skills, perspective, and resilience needed for what comes next.”
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