Born in Utica, Miss., Shears graduated from Hinds County Agricultural High School before enrolling at Alcorn State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications in 1999 and a master’s degree in education in 2001. He then went on to Mississippi College, where he received a specialist degree in education leadership in 2004. He later received a doctorate in educational leadership from Mississippi College in 2012.

After graduating from Alcorn, Shears began working as a 4th and 5th-grade teacher for Jackson Public Schools. He later became an instructional specialist in JPS’ Office of Curriculum and Instruction in 2004. In 2006 he took a position as principal of Clausell Elementary School, and became principal of Bates Elementary School in 2010. He became the executive director of elementary schools for JPS in 2012 and remained there until 2014, when he took a position as academic dean and executive director of Title III and Sponsored Programs at Hinds County Agricultural High School.

Shears is currently the Associate Vice President for Jackson State University’s Student Success.