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Panelist Bio


Sheryl Abshire
Chief Technology Officer in the Calcasieu Parish School System in Lake Charles, Louisiana

As a leader in technology integration, she has served as the catalyst to initiate the integration of technology into all curriculum areas throughout her school district, the state, and internationally. She serves on numerous national, state, and district committees focusing on the role of technology and curriculum integration in changing educational practice. She has been involved in diverse staff development programs throughout the nation and in Great Britain involving restructuring schools through the infusion of technology and curriculum enhancements. As a member of the ISTE NETS Writing Team and the Technology for School Administrators Writing Team she is deeply involved in infusing technology into standards based instruction. Additionally, she is a member of the ISTE Standards and Accreditation Committee working on the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Refresh Project.

Sheryl has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education, a M.Ed. in Elementary Education, an Educational Specialist in School Administration and Supervision and a Ph.D. from the University of New Orleans in Educational Leadership and Administration. She is an accomplished grant writer and regularly conducts institutes to fund innovative technology programs throughout the nation. A thirty-six year veteran educator, she has worked as a school principal, K-5 teacher, a library/media specialist, a classroom teacher, and as an adjunct professor at McNeese State University, Louisiana Tech University and Lamar University (2010).

Presently Dr. Abshire serves on the national advisory boards for Dell, Blackboard, eSchool News, Pearson Digital Learning and Scholastic Administrator. She is the Chairman of the Louisiana Department of Education Committee to Advance Technology Standards and since 1997 has served as Chairman of the Louisiana Technology Advisory Commission with the responsibility to oversee and approve proposals for the expenditure of over $200 million in technological advancements in the Louisiana schools. In May of 2009, ISTE awarded Dr. Abshire the first Public Policy Advocate of the Year Award for her decades of work promoting educational technology.

Current Topic


05/13 - Medicaid Expansion: Take it or Leave it?

Should Louisiana expand Medicaid benefits to subsidize national healthcare coverage or not?

Coming Soon!


06/13 - STEM Status: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math in Louisiana

How can Louisiana better equip its citizens for future STEM positions?

Recent Topics


04/13 - Louisiana Coastal Concerns: BP & Beyond

What are viable strategies for addressing our coastal erosion in light of sea level rise, subsidence, hurricanes and oil spills?


03/13 - Tax Reform 2013

What would these changes mean for Louisiana’s low and middle income families?


02/13 - Preventable: HIV/AIDS in Louisiana

So how is Louisiana confronting this health issue?


01/13 - Newtown: A Louisiana Perspective

Where does Louisiana stand in this national discussion on guns and mental health?

»»» View all Topics!
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