In our final installment for Women’s History Month, we shift our lens from the front lines of community activism to the highest levels of educational leadership. To conclude our "Herstory" series, we are honoring a glass-ceiling breaker whose impact continues to ripple across North Carolina: Dr. Sharon Contreras.

When Dr. Contreras became the Superintendent of Guilford County Schools in 2016, she didn't just take a job; she made history. She was the first woman and first Latina—and the second African American—to lead the district (Guilford Education Alliance, 2026 ). For six years, she navigated the complexities of one of the state’s largest districts with a relentless focus on racial equity and student achievement.


From Superintendent to CEO: A New Frontier of Innovation
In June 2022, Dr. Contreras stepped down from her role as Superintendent, but her mission for North Carolina’s students was far from over. In August 2022, she transitioned into her role as the CEO of The Innovation Project (TIP) (The Business Journals, 2022).

This NC-based non-profit is a unique collaborative powerhouse run by superintendents. In her new role, Dr. Contreras has expanded her reach from a single district to the entire state. Her work now focuses on: 

• Systemic Innovation: Supporting public school districts through collaborative, equity-focused initiatives that go beyond standard test scores.
• Positive Life Outcomes: Using her decades of experience to ensure that education serves as a gateway to better life outcomes for every student, regardless of their zip code (Rash, 2024).
• Racial Equity: Continuing her career-long commitment to dismantling systemic barriers within the educational landscape.

Key Successes and Projects

Guilford County Schools (GCS) Successes
Dr. Contreras's tenure was marked by massive systemic wins that directly impacted the lives of students in Title I schools and beyond: 

• Historic Facility Funding: She successfully led the charge for the $2 billion bond referendum (the largest in NC history at the time) to address crumbling school facilities and modernize the learning environment (FOX8 Web Staff, 2024).
• Record-Breaking Graduation Rates: Under her leadership, GCS reached its highest-ever graduation rate of 91.8% in 2022.
• National Models for Tutoring: During the pandemic, she launched the High-Dosage Tutoring initiative and high school learning hubs, which the federal government recognized as national models for addressing learning loss.
• Opportunity Culture: She implemented the Opportunity Culture model at GCS, which enables the most effective teachers to reach more students while earning more money—directly improving math and reading proficiency.

The Innovation Project (TIP) Initiatives
Since becoming CEO in August 2022, she has focused on scaling innovation across the state:

• Collaborative Leadership: She leads a group of over 30 forward-thinking NC superintendents to design learner-centered, equitable systems that look beyond test scores to focus on the whole child.
• The Ignite & Pinnacle Awards: Dr. Contreras recently launched TIP's inaugural awards program to recognize and scale visionary leadership in North Carolina school districts.

Where is her office now?
While Dr. Contreras works with school districts across all of North Carolina, The Innovation Project (TIP) is headquartered in Raleigh, NC, the state capital.  

Digital Reach: You can find the latest updates on her work on the official TIP website at tipnc.org.


The Path Blazed and the Path Ahead
Dr. Contreras represents a different, yet equally vital, kind of "Herstory." She proves that when women lead our institutions, they bring a vision that is both innovative and deeply rooted in the community's needs. Her transition to The Innovation Project ensures that the leadership lessons learned in Guilford County now benefit students across the entire state of North Carolina.

As we close this series, we look back at the women we have featured—the activists, the professionals, and the systemic leaders. They all remind us that the "Herstory" of our community is not a static past, but a living, breathing path that we all continue to trek.

Reference List

FOX8 Web Staff. (2024, May 15). Guilford County Schools celebrates milestone of $2 billion bonds. FOX8 WGHP. https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/guilford-county-schools-celebrates-milestone-of-2-billion-bonds/

Guilford Education Alliance (GEA). (2026). Dr. Sharon Contreras, 2022 Honoree. https://guilfordeducationalliance.org/dr-sharon-contreras-2022-honoree/#:~:text=As%20a%20lifelong%20educator%2C%20Sharon,superintendent%20of%20Guilford%20County%20Schools.

The Business Journals. (2022). Former GCS Superintendent Sharon Contreras begins new role as CEO of The Innovation Project. https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2022/01/14/sharon-contreras-guilford-county-schools.html

The Innovation Project (TIP). (2026).The Innovation Project: What We Do. https://tipnc.org/what-we-do/

Rash, M. (2024, July 22). Dr. Sharon Contreras honored with lifetime achievement award. EdNC. https://www.ednc.org/dr-sharon-contreras-honored-with-lifetime-achievement-award/

About Operation Xcel: Operation Xcel provides educational resources and support to help youth and adults in our community reach their full potential. We work alongside leaders and districts, including those shaped by Dr. Contreras, to ensure that students in Title I schools receive the STEM/STEAM tutoring and social-emotional mentoring they need to succeed. By honoring pioneers in education, we aim to inspire our students to see themselves as the "Herstory" makers of tomorrow.