"WOMAN OF STEEL" AT TOWSON

Image

MEET SHARNETTA GREEN, BUILDING OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR AT RIDERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND A “WOMAN OF STEEL”

Green has developed a speech about her previous career at Bethlehem Steel and shared it with the community and her school

By TEAM BCPS

"WOMAN OF STEEL"

In a way, all building operations supervisors are “men and women of steel.” Their responsibilities are vast, ensuring that the facilities they manage are fully operational each day. Sharnetta Green, building operations supervisor at Riderwood Elementary School, says that her responsibilities include maintaining everything from ceiling and floor tiles, HVAC, lighting, plumbing, electrical, and painting to building cleanliness and supervising a staff of three.

But Green is also a “Woman of Steel” in a more literal way. Before joining the staff of BCPS in 2014, she worked at Bethlehem Steel for 34 years. In June, she and five other female steelworkers were invited to tell their stories at a Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group event.

Sharnetta Green at her desk at Riderwood Elementary School

A younger Green working at Bethlehem Steel

Sharnetta Green: now and then

SHARING HER STORY

Green credits Riderwood Grade 4 mathematics teacher Lynn Bollinger with helping her organize her “Woman of Steel” speech. Soon after, a copy of the speech circulated through the school, Principal William Cirrincione read it, and invited her to read it to staff members when they returned to school after the summer. “He said it was motivational,” Green adds. Special guests visiting Riderwood on August 29, 2022, also heard the oration. The audience that day included BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams, his staff, and County Council members.

“I worked with Ms. Green for four years before I knew about her amazing life experiences,” Cirrincione says. “She is so humble. But I felt like her story needed to be shared with a wider audience. After she presented her speech to Riderwood staff and the superintendent and county leaders, she told me she was proud of herself. I am so glad that we created this opportunity to celebrate her career.”

“I worked with Ms. Green for four years before I knew about her amazing life experiences. She is so humble.” - Principal William Cirrincione

Principal William Cirrincione, Building Operations Supervisor Sharnetta Green, and Assistant Principal Robyn Buckheit

FROM BCPS SCHOOLS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL

In a way, Green seemed destined to work at Bethlehem Steel. She grew up in Turner Station with two sisters and four brothers. Turner Station is a historic community where many African American workers at Bethlehem Steel and other nearby factories lived.

A product of Baltimore County Public Schools, Green attended Kindergarten at the Fleming School. The school (now closed) was designed to serve Black students and was designed by noted African American architect Hilyard R. Robinson. Green completed her education at Logan Elementary, Merritt Point Elementary (which was demolished in 2010), Dundalk Middle School, and Dundalk High School.

“Throughout my school years,” Green says, “I was into sports – basketball, softball. I was always active, and still to this day, I can’t sit down.”

A community sign

An aerial view of Turner Station

The Fleming Community Center was built on the land where Fleming School stood

Turner Station

After graduating from Dundalk High, Green attended the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) for one year, before leaving college to work at Bethlehem Steel. “I stayed on campus at UMBC and enjoyed it,” Green says, “but I was ready to earn money and get out of my mother’s house.”

Green was initially hired by Bethlehem Steel as a laborer. She was then promoted to serve as crane operator. She quickly became a leader among the workers, serving as shop stewardess, a safety team member, and an advocate for more bathrooms for women. “I was one of only a few women on the union executive board,” Green notes.

“When the steel mill started to decline and lay off workers, the company paid for us to make a transition,” Green remembers. Bethlehem Steel paid for Green to attend the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) for two years, where she studied computer and health sciences.

AND BACK TO BCPS

When her studies ended, Green joined BCPS as a custodian. In a few months, she moved up into an assistant supervisor position, and within two years, she was appointed a building operations supervisor. She was assigned to Riderwood about five years ago, and she loves working at the school. (Green also often can be found working overtime shifts at several different BCPS schools.)

“After I turn on the lights and open doors at Riderwood each morning, I love to be in the lobby to greet everyone,” Green says. “The staff is always so happy and positive.”

“Sharnetta Green is a person who leaves an indelible impression on everyone she works with at Riderwood,” says Bollinger. “Her smile, attitude, and work ethic are incomparable. I feel honored to call her my friend and colleague.”

“Sharnetta Green is a person who leaves an indelible impression on everyone she works with at Riderwood.”- Lynn Bollinger, Grade 4 mathematics teacher

Green at work at Riderwood Elementary

Another aspect of her job that Green enjoys is mentoring the three building service workers she supervises. “They are all in their 20s,” she says, “and I have trained them to move up. I want them all to become building operations supervisors.”

“They are all in their 20s, and I have trained them to move up. I want them all to become building operations supervisors.” - Sharnetta Green, speaking about the building service workers she supervises

“I meet with them every day at 3 p.m., which is when their shift begins,” Green explains. “I will tell them everything that has happened in the building and review their performance from the night before. I like to ask them if they have a better way to get things done.”

For her work, Green earned a teamwork achievement award in June 2022 from the BCPS Office of Operations. She also has a personalized “Women of Steel” brick placed in the brick garden at the Baltimore Museum of Industry in Baltimore City. (To learn more about Bethlehem Steel, please visit the Baltimore Museum of Industry.)

Green playing on gym equipment

Riderwood's physical education teacher Dr. Heather Savage and Sharnetta Green

Sharnetta and a school secretary on "Hat Day"

Green having fun at Riderwood

IN HER OWN "LITTLE EMPIRE"

Green has lived in Owings Mills for more than 20 years and loves working in her yard, “fiddling around,” and studying the Bible. She calls her home “her little empire.”

Green has raised four daughters. Her eldest is an entrepreneur who owns daycare centers and rental properties. Her second daughter is a former assistant state superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Career and College Readiness. She is now a senior policy associate for Policy Studies Associates. Her third daughter works in the food service industry. Her fourth daughter works as a billing specialist.

Green also loves spending time with her seven grandchildren. She enjoys their visits and playing with them on her trampoline and swing set. “I keep them moving and grooving,” she says – just as she, our “Woman of Steel,” continues to be on the move.

Most of Green's grandchildren visiting her home

© 2022 Team BCPS

More News from Timonium
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive