Sharon (Payne) McBride graduated salutatorian from T.J.H.S. where she was President of the National Honor & Thespian Societies, Co-Captain of the Academic Decathlon & Brain Bowl teams, 1st Chair Trumpet, sang soprano in several choirs and was awarded Lead Vocalist, and won many theatre and speech contest awards.
Sharon earned a full-ride scholarship to Central in Pella, IA as the Joan Kuyper Farver Scholar. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She studied abroad in the Netherlands, competed on the speech team earning national and regional awards along with performing in theatre and choir productions. She volunteered for local charities as well as for Habitat for Humanity and Amnesty International. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and played I.M. basketball and rugby. She earned a Masters in Educational Leadership at Northeastern Illinois University. Beyond this masters degree she has also earned more than 40 graduate credits in a variety of areas of interest including gifted education.
Sharon began her teaching career in the Kansas City area teaching elementary, started an Early Childhood Education program for her school district, and directed and taught the gifted program in Weston, MO, grades K-12. She was awarded the New Gifted Teacher of the Year award for the state of Missouri. She moved to the Chicago area and taught gifted math in Avoca School District 37 in Wilmette and then served for many years as a gifted specialist in D181 in Hinsdale earning appreciation from the D181 Foundation for her “expertise and dedication.” She was a recipient of a Fulbright Japanese Memorial Scholarship and was honored to spend 3 weeks in Japan on a teacher exchange program.
She loves teaching children and spreading the joy of learning. She’s infamous for making up silly songs and dancing around the classroom! She discovered the Mr. Math program when searching for a great challenge for her son. She was thrilled with the program and its’ focus on fun in learning so she was excited to join the team. Outside of the classroom Sharon loves to travel and hike. She volunteers on both AYSO soccer & Little League Baseball boards and is an avid reader who belongs to two active book clubs.
