A memorable, resourceful mentoring experience
PEARLS is a mentoring program for young ladies at the middle and high school level in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Founded by retired educator Sharon Bonner Yates and guided by a dedicated team of community leaders and coordinators, PEARLS pairs each young lady with caring mentors and a full year of meetings, workshops, community service, and cultural and enrichment activities.
What's the difference between a PEARL and a Cultured PEARL?
In nature, every pearl begins the same way — something small enters the oyster, and layer by layer, patience and care transform it into a treasure. A cultured pearl is one that has been intentionally nurtured over time until its full luster shines. Our program works the same way:
PEARLS
Our PEARLS are the young ladies of Dinwiddie Middle School (DMS) — pearls at the beginning of their journey, forming their shine. They meet in person at DMS on the 3rd Tuesday after school and wear the classic white pearl strand to every meeting and event.
Cultured PEARLS
Our Cultured PEARLS are the high school members — pearls whose luster has been nurtured and refined through the years. They meet in person on the 3rd Wednesday from 4th period to the end of the day and, like all our members, wear their pearls to every meeting and event.
Both strands come together for virtual group meetings, community service, cultural outings, and celebrations all season long — one sisterhood, growing in luster together.
Monthly gatherings, in person and virtual
- DMS PEARLS meet in person the 3rd Tuesday after school, every other month.
- Cultured PEARLS meet in person the 3rd Wednesday from 4th period (1:00 pm) to the end of day, every other month.
- Virtual meetings bring the entire group together on the 3rd Tuesday in alternating months.
- Every session includes The Pearl Pod — a talk session to share concerns, celebrate accomplishments, and support one another — and closes with affirmations tied to the month's theme.
See every date on the Calendar tab, and full details on the Events tab.
Membership expectations
- Complete and submit a membership packet.
- Attend monthly meetings, community service activities, workshops, and planned enrichment and cultural events.
- Wear your pearls to all monthly meetings and PEARLS-related events.
- Maintain an attitude and character that align with the objectives of the program.
Parent expectations
- Review and sign all required documents in the membership packet.
- Provide transportation to and from all scheduled activities and events; pick up promptly at 3:45 pm from the front of the building after school meetings.
- Attend all parent-invited sessions, activities, and events.
- Encourage attendance, remind your daughter to wear her pearls, and keep your parent profile updated in Infinite Campus.
Lost or broken pearls? Reorder on Amazon — LZMEI white 8mm faux knotted glass pearl strand ($9.99).
Sharon Bonner Yates
Sharon Dianna Bonner Yates was born September 18, 1949, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — the youngest of eight children born to John Moses Bonner and Laura May Jones-Bonner. She grew up with two brothers, John and Lester, and five sisters: Dorothy, Evelyn, and three now deceased — Emma, Gladys, and Charlene.
A graduate of Virginia State College (now University), Sharon earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English, along with certifications in Supervision and Administration of Education.
A trailblazing career in education
After 17 years in the classroom, she accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Dinwiddie High School — making her the first female assistant principal at the high school level in Dinwiddie County. In 1997, Mrs. Yates became Director of Secondary Instruction and Staff Development for Dinwiddie County Public Schools, responsible for the division's alternative program, career and technical education, adult education, secondary instruction, and staff development.
As Director of Secondary Education, she served as the division's liaison to the John Tyler Community College Partnership to Ensure Educational Reform (PEER) consortium and worked closely with the county to establish the Dinwiddie County Youth Workforce Development Initiative. Throughout her career, Sharon was a mentor to many, many students and teachers. She retired from Dinwiddie County Public Schools in 2016, after 41 years of service.
Service that never slowed down
Retirement has not slowed her down. Sharon has represented Dinwiddie County on the Appomattox Regional Library System Board of Directors, served on the Dinwiddie County Board of Equalization, is a current member of the Industrial Development Authority, and co-chairs the county's Task Force on Race, Equity and Reconciliation.
She is a member of Mount Level Baptist Church, where she serves on the Board of Trustees as Church Clerk, sings with the Ebony Gospel Choral Ensemble, chairs the Senior Saints Ministry, and previously served for many years as Director of Youth and Sunday school teacher.
The heart behind PEARLS
Following her call and passion to work with youth, Sharon founded PEARLS — Prepared, Educated, Acclimated, Resourceful, Ladies of Success. She works closely with several community leaders to provide a memorable, resourceful mentoring experience for more than 20 young ladies at the middle and high school level.
Sharon is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., active in the Petersburg Alumnae Chapter, and chairs the Historic Southside High School Alumni Association — more than 100 members strong with 501(c)(3) status. She is also a member of the Dinwiddie Chapter of the Virginia State University Alumni Association, the Dinwiddie Retired Teachers Association, the Dinwiddie Chapter of the NAACP, and the Dinwiddie Kiwanis. In 2020, she was selected as Dinwiddie County's Hometown Hero.
Sharon was married to John Rollin Yates (deceased) and has two children, Monique Chantel and Dominick O'Neil (Melissa); four grandchildren, Shanique, Sommer, Dominick, and Ariyanna; a god-granddaughter, Lajoyouse; a bonus daughter, Velda (Bubbee); four bonus grandchildren, Ashley, Jaquan, Kareem, and Hendricks; and a plethora of nieces, nephews, and others who lovingly call her “Aunt Bugg.”
Sharon credits much of her success as an educator to the many role models who influenced her life along the way, and sums up her life's work with one of her favorite Bible verses:
“To whom much is given, much will be required.”Luke 12:48
Become a PEARL
Complete the registration below — it combines the PEARLS membership packet with the “All About Me” mentee profile, so we can welcome you and get to know you in one step. Parents and students complete it together, then press Submit — your registration goes straight to the PEARLS team.
Prefer the online Google Form instead? Register here. The emergency medical release is completed on paper — please bring it, along with a copy of your insurance card (front and back), to orientation.
Every registration is collected in the site's Netlify dashboard (Forms), where the PEARLS team can view or download them all as a spreadsheet.
Add an event
Meeting sign-in
Tap Sign In to add your name to a meeting's attendance list — every sign-in is sent to the PEARLS team. Virtual meetings (3rd Tuesday, 7:00–8:30 pm ET) include a Join Video Call button with the Google Meet link. Coordinators can change any link with the pencil icon.
Upcoming events
Full details for the season. Use ✎ to edit an event (including its sign-in link) — the editor opens on the Calendar tab.
Photo gallery
Share moments from meetings, outings, and celebrations. Photos are resized automatically and visible to everyone who opens this app.