Teacher's influence reaches far beyond the classroom

PEKIN (Heart of Illinois ABC) - She’s a instructor, a singer, and advocate for the arts. But those only reflect a fraction of Sharon Samuels Reed’s life of local influence.

Originally from Paris, Texas, Reed taught in Peoria Public Schools starting in 1972, spending two years at Roosevelt and 18 1/2 at Woodruff. But in 1994, Pekin Community High School asked her to come out of retirement to lead the music department and cultural studies department. Outside of the prestige of the position, it would make her the first African-American teacher in the city.

While apprehensive at first., she says it was an experience she needed to share the message of unity with younger generations.

“As many diverse things as I do, they could all be put into one cup,” says Reed, “and that’s to make the people and the world around you a better place to live because you’ve been there.”

Reed’s history with music dates back to her early life, taking her first music lessons in 1958. She cites her father as the reason behind her love of music, originally wanting her to get involved in classical training or opera.

After attending college in 1968, she knew she wanted to fight for freedom after growing up in the segregated south. To do it, she chose her love of music as the tool for making a difference.

“I chose eventually, consciously or subconsciously, I’m not sure which, to use music to as a way to make a difference around me,” she says.

That decision stayed with her upon her move to Pekin, coming out of retirement for the teaching position. For her, it was a chance to live ‘her best life.’

Beyond the classroom, one of Reed’s many achievements is founding the Heritage Ensemble, created after a group of local performers saw the need to bring diversity to community theater. The collective performs several major concerts a year, including on Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Their resume even includes a performance at Carnegie Hall.

An original member, Reed’s close friend Gayle Cooper knows her influence means more than just her involvement and accolades. It’s what she does for the people in her life that speaks to her character.

“Anyone that knows Mrs. Reed knows that she is all about family,” says Cooper, “that if you know her, you are family, and if you’re a part of the Heritage Ensemble, you’re always a part of that family as well.”

Reed’s work to better the community is far from finished. Along with her work as the Fine Arts Director at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin, she also acts as an advisor for District 150 from time to time.

Amid all of her success, however, she wants one message to get across to all those she touches more than anything:

“How much richer our lives would be if we spent more time getting to know each other than trying to block each other.”

Copyright 2022 Heart of Illinois ABC. All rights reserved.