If you ever want to understand the heartbeat of Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services, spend a  few minutes inside Higdon Hill School. The rooms feel different. The

 energy feels different.  Students who arrive carrying big emotions and complicated stories suddenly have a place that  feels steady, safe, and — maybe for the first time in a while — full of possibility.

That atmosphere didn’t appear on its own. 

It has a leader behind it. 

Mrs. Sharon Pearson, Director of Education and Principal of Higdon Hill, has spent years  reshaping what “real school” can look

 like inside a behavioral health setting. And once you  know her story, her impact makes perfect sense. 

Where It All Started 

Sharon’s calling to education didn’t begin with a job title. It started in childhood, watching her  younger brother struggle in school and face bullying because he had fallen behind. 

While other kids looked away, Sharon stepped in. 

“I was like the little protector of the school children with special needs,” she says. And she  never really stopped being that person. 

Guided by her faith and a deep sense that God had put this work in her heart, Sharon grew into  the kind of educator who doesn’t just teach—she advocates, guides, and pushes for better. 

A Career Rooted in Special Education 

Before she joined Higdon Hill, Sharon spent decades preparing for exactly the kind of leadership  she now brings to our campus. 

She earned: 

• A Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Alabama A&M University ∙ A Master of Education in Special Education & Teaching from Alabama State University
• An Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Special Education and Teaching from  Jacksonville State University 

These aren’t just credentials—they’re a reflection of someone who chose to become an expert  in the field long before she ever imagined leading a school in a behavioral health environment. 

Professionally, her résumé spans nearly half a century in Alabama education and youth  services: 

• Transition Coordinator, Jefferson County Schools (29 years) 
• Program Coordinator, STARS Program, My Father’s House Foundation (22+ years) ∙ Principal of Higdon Hill School (2011–present) 

Each role shares a common thread: helping young people gain confidence, skills, and  independence. 

The Transformation of Higdon Hill 

When Sharon first arrived at Higdon Hill as a teacher, the school didn’t look like the one you see  today. The instruction wasn’t structured, the classrooms lacked identity, and the environment  didn’t communicate the dignity and expectations students deserved. 

Sharon didn’t criticize—it’s not her style. She simply waited, prepared, and stepped into  leadership when the principal position opened. 

And once she did, everything changed. 

Today, Higdon Hill’s classrooms feel like destinations. One room looks like Hogwarts. Another  transports students into a blue lagoon for history lessons. Walls 

hold color, intention, and  creativity—because Sharon believes students learn best when the environment tells them they  matter. 

Her teachers follow her lead. One of them, Andrew Hill, was recognized as Teacher of the Year  across the entire UHS system, a reflection of both his talent and the culture Sharon has created. 

Recognition That Speaks for Itself 

Under Sharon’s leadership, Higdon Hill earned one of the most respected honors in education: designation as a Cognia School of Distinction.

This is not an accolade that comes easily. It recognizes schools that demonstrate strong  leadership, high-quality instruction, and a commitment to continuous improvement. For Higdon  Hill—a school serving students with complex behavioral and emotional needs—it is an  extraordinary achievement. 

And it speaks volumes about the work Sharon and her team put in daily. 

Looking Ahead 

If you ask Sharon what she wants for the future, she doesn’t talk about her own career. She  talks about the students. 

Her dream is for Higdon Hill to have its own dedicated school building on campus—a space built  intentionally for therapeutic learning, sensory-friendly classrooms, and programming that gives  students a stable, structured educational experience. 

She wants a school that looks and feels like the ones her students will return to in the  community, because she never wants them to fee

l like they’ve missed out on a “real school”  experience. 

And if you know Sharon, you know she’ll keep working until that dream becomes reality. 

Who She Is at Her Core 

Sharon’s leadership blends experience, education, and something much harder to teach: heart. 

Students arrive at Higdon Hill carrying heavy things—trauma, frustration, fear, uncertainty. And  somehow, through patience and consistency, Sharon helps them find confidence again. 

She sees the whole child. 

She believes in their potential. 

She insists on excellence while offering grace. 

And because she believes in them, they start believing in themselves. 

Why We’re Honoring Her

As Hill Crest launches this new blog series, it feels only right that our first story belongs to a  woman who has spent her entire life fighting for children who need someone in their corner.

Mrs. Sharon Pearson is a Birmingham legend—steady, faithful, and extraordinary. A scholar. 

A protector. 

A leader who has transformed a school and shaped countless lives. 

At Higdon Hill, “real school” is not just a phrase. 

It’s a promise. 

And because of Mrs. Pearson, it’s a promise we keep.

Written by Lyndsey Bailey, Director of Business Development 

Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services