We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sharnez Givens-Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sharnez, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As an educator, I quickly noticed that many of my high school students lacked strong literacy skills. Early in my career, I taught sophomore English, and one of the first things that stood out was how many students struggled with basic comprehension. However, I soon realized that their difficulties ran even deeper—many of them couldn’t decode words because they had never fully developed phonetic awareness. Some students in my classroom didn’t actually know how to read.

I wasn’t trained to teach foundational literacy skills. I became a high school English teacher because I loved literature and wanted to share that love with my students. But how could I analyze novels and poetry with students who couldn’t read the words on the page?

Recognizing this gap in my skills, I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Reading. I hoped that becoming a Reading Specialist would empower me to meet my students where they were and still guide them toward analyzing literature. During my studies, I learned about the five pillars of reading, and I was eager to bring that knowledge back to the classroom.

But then, tragedy struck—two of my students passed away. It was an emotionally devastating experience. Seeing their empty desks every day broke me in a way I couldn’t describe. I made the difficult decision to leave that school district.

That move led me to a new opportunity in a multilingual school district, where I began teaching at a high school with no clear demographic majority. In my classroom, over 20 different languages were spoken. This presented a new challenge: how could I teach English literature to students who were still learning the language?

Once again, I found myself at a crossroads—and again, I turned to education. I was accepted into a second Master’s program, this time in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). The program focused on interventions and strategies to support English Language Learners, and I began to see overlap between what I was learning in both graduate programs.

That realization changed my teaching forever.

Across both programs, I found consistent, research-based strategies that worked: activating prior knowledge, using visuals, and finding meaningful connections between concepts. These practices weren’t new to me, but I began to merge them in a way that reached both struggling readers and English learners. It became my gift.

My curriculum was transformed. Literary analysis, essays, and creative projects became the norm—even for students who once struggled to read. I differentiated when necessary, but often found I didn’t have to. My students began to engage with deep concepts and analyze not just texts, but also videos and images.

Empowered by this growth, I decided to pursue another dream: writing a children’s book.

This wasn’t a new dream. During my coronation ceremony as an HBCU queen, I shared that I wanted to write Afrocentric children’s books. Now, the time had come to turn that dream into reality. That’s when Jordy was born.

Sneakers have always been part of my identity. As a kid, my sister used to take me to Allegheny Center Mall to buy new sneakers. The feeling of walking into school the next day in fresh kicks gave me confidence—a kind of superpower I still carry today. I combined my love for sneakers and literacy to create Jordy.

Jordy is a 3rd-grade genius who’s a little shy, but her sneakers give her the confidence she needs. Whenever she faces a challenge, she looks at her shoes—and they remind her she’s capable. The book includes “Sneaker Breaks,” which are fun and interactive comprehension checkpoints designed to help young readers identify key elements of the story and build essential literacy skills.

My book is more than just a story—it’s a bridge. It appeals to SneakerKids and helps them grow as readers, thinkers, and confident individuals.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve had to unlearn is the habit of creating limits for myself. Throughout this journey, I’ve realized that I was the one placing restrictions on both myself and my business, which ultimately held back my success. I would often find reasons to avoid opportunities, like applying for a conference or attending a book festival—convinced that there was some obstacle in my way. These excuses came from my own mind.

But watching my husband, who has always stepped out on faith and pursued what he truly wanted, inspired me to break free from this mindset. For years, I saw him take bold steps—making connections and putting himself in the right rooms without hesitation. His example showed me how to unlearn the habit of limiting myself. It’s now clear to me that the only thing standing in the way of my dreams was my own fear of taking that first step.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being in education has been the most helpful when building my reputation. I live and breathe literacy every day in my role as an assistant principal. I also serve as an director on the board of the Saint Louis Regional Literacy Association. By being a member of this organization, I am able to see literacy rates at a regional level. This data further drives my passion for literacy for all students.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @zavierpublishing
• Linkedin: @sharnez-givens-williams-edd

Image Credits

Ed Rhone