About Me

Sharon Gaines Lee is an educator and mother of two lovely black children, and a grandmother of two beautiful brown grandsons. She has been nurturing young minds for over 30 years. Living in a rural and predominantly white area, she ferried the mission of teaching “respect and self-worth” not only to her students, children and grandchildren but to people of other cultures as well.

Teaching children to embrace differences versus embracing stereotypes was challenging but intensely rewarding. Self worth blossoms into respect and love. The earlier you influence a child to love and cherish themselves, the better the chance of them becoming an influencer of positivity in this arena and in life’s most difficult situations as well.

Ms. Lee’s motto is, “Self-worth is crucial to having a full, fulfilling life. Otherwise you falter, simply exist, and follow.”

Divinely Designed Women of Wisdom

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More About Sharon

Olivia Green

My god-family means the world to me and they played a big part in who I am today.

My amazing godmother taught our preschool class and she treated each and every one of us like we were her kids. I loved going over to their house and spending the night when my parents were out of town, some of my fondest memories. Their house was not only filled with the smells (and tastes) of amazing food coupled with the sounds of smooth jazz, but it was also a house always filled with love. I became a born again Christian at my godparent’s house, and they’ve surrounded me with prayer and guidance since the day I was born.

I’m so blessed to have such a kind and gentle godfather, a beautiful and strong godmother, and a talented and protective godbrother. Family has many forms, and they will always be a part of mine.

- Olivia Green, Director of Client Services at Select Sports Group

Gabe Stultz

Growing up inseparable from Sharon’s son, Herb, I was one of the family. I find it hard, some 20 years later, to think of a happy childhood experience without my best friend or his family in it. What a gift it was to grow up free of any sense that our different skin colors mattered. How many great memories would I be robbed of today had such a thing been impressed upon us by his parents or mine? Today, I’m happy to judge people on their merit, but growing up in such close proximity to Sharon and her family has forever prevented me from judging people based on the color of their skin; the premise that it should be the basis of judgment has been, in my mind and by very lucky experience, thoroughly refuted. That would seem proof that the Lee’s made a difference in at least one person’s life, but think of the ripple effect. My siblings and parents would say the same, I’m sure. And my own children, and my nieces and nephews, will grow up now with that perspective, too. All because two families saw no good reason not to be friends.

Gabe Stultz, Attorney

Mary Kuehn

Sharon was my first-ever teacher in preschool! She was also my first employer in a high-school job. Today, working as a producer, I recognize more and more how much she taught me about diversity, and what a gift it was in the small town where I grew up, that she showed me how normal and valuable it is to have authority figures who looked different than me. I can't wait to read the book! And I'm glad she taught me so much about letter sounds when I was 4 years old, so I can.

Mary Kuehn, Producer

Debashree Sethmajhi (Dee)

BOOK: “TeTe the Colored Calico Cat” by Sharon Gaines Lee~. The Importance of Loving The Skin Your In!🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺 🌺🌺. sharongaineslee.com. I would like to brag about my momma - Sharon Gaines Lee - here. She isn’t my mother by birth but she is no less than my own mother to me. I may have only known her a few years but she has had a huge impact on my life. She is my strength when I feel weak, she picks me up when I am down in the pit of despair, she corrects me when I need correction and she taught me to know my worth. She taught me to appreciate who I am, to appreciate the color of my skin which was a struggle for me from my childhood. I grew up in a country where the definition of beauty is very specific and I felt like I was no where close to it. But momma taught me to embrace myself and see myself the way God sees me. I owe so of how I feel about myself today to her. Love you! And I know this book is going to be a great success!

- Debashree Sethmajhi (Dee)

Senior Technical Product Manager, Oracle Inc

Sarah Johnson

From the moment Sharon Gaines Lee welcomed us into her beautiful Pennsylvania home years ago we knew we’d found a friend for life. We’d known her much longer than that but staying in someone’s home is a true test of their character - particularly when you feel so safe you can actually invite yourselves as we did!! She never flinched... and let us feel so at home that we could share our hearts. Sharon is kind as well as straightforward and she challenged us to be just as honest with her. We came back again & again and her home was a sanctuary in a stormy time. Sharon’s fierce determination to stand for what’s right & true against almost overwhelming odds is inspiring. We commend her & her writing to you!

Martin & Sarah Johnson (UK)

Sharon Gaines Lee