Sharon Snider was born knowing she would be an artist. Her mother always said she could draw a recognizable form before she could talk. Sharon always believed she had been given a gift, and she felt a huge responsibility not to squander that gift.
Although her early education included many teachers who found clever ways to utilize her talent, Sharon’s school system offered no art curriculum, so she had no art training until college.
Educated as a studio artist, Sharon picked up a teaching degree on the side. When Sharon made her commitment to teaching, she promised herself and her future students that she would give them high-caliber creative art training so that they would never suffer the lack of creativity in their lives. To ensure she would never teach anything but art, she took a double art major with no minor field of study.
For the last ten years of her teaching career, she taught elementary art, which became one of her greatest joys. One reason she chooses to illustrate children’s books in her retirement is to inspire talented young students to follow art careers of their own.
The reason she chose to illustrate the Responza stories is the broad need she has seen for the lessons they teach, and the way she has seen them turn children around.
She has worked with Sonya for almost ten years. She has seen Sonya work with children and observed how much they adore her. She’s seen why Sonya’s stories work: They explain self-control and problem solving in a way that helps young minds understand the “why” of behavior.
Sharon is excited about the Responza stories because the characters are based on real children and the problems they face in the classroom and later life. She believes that if character education can be taught early and thoroughly, it will help children develop into responsible young adults.
Sharon has a Master's degree plus 21 hours in studio art, 30 years of teaching experience, and advanced placement certification for high school students entering college. She is also a great animal lover.