Cheryl Lemke is President and CEO of the Metiri Group, a consulting firm dedicated to advancing effective uses of technology in schools, and serves as the Practice Leader for Metiri Group Policy Consulting. Prior to launching the firm, she was the executive director of the Milken Exchange on Education Technology for the Milken Family Foundation.
Cheryl has published articles and appeared in a variety of media outlets such as Education Week, eSchool News, THE Journal, and numerous other publications.
Ms. Lemke specializes in public policy for K-16 learning technology, working at many levels with governors, legislators, superintendents, professors, business leaders, and teachers. She currently works with both the public and private sectors in states across the country, as well as at the national level. Last year, Ms. Lemke facilitated public hearings in Silicon Valley, CA and Atlanta, GA for the web-based Education Congressional Committee. This year, she is working with several states on leadership in technology initiatives, and most recently authored the definitive work on 21st Century Skills that was published by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory and the CEO Forum. Ms. Lemke’s 25-year career in the public sector and her work with Metiri Group have included projects related to assessing the impact of technology on learning; gauging the progress of states, districts, and schools in bringing technology to the learning process; conducting surveys and focus groups; convening national experts in discussions on policy issues; and designing and prototyping educational technology frameworks.
As an associate superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education, Ms. Lemke managed a center for learning technology with over 100 staff members, translating the $50 million annual budget into: a new State backbone; professional development centers; community-based technology planning processes for Illinois schools; and online curriculum projects designed to help students learn.
Ms. Lemke also oversaw the development of state learning technology plans in both Illinois and Washington.
Recognized nationally as a proactive leader in learning technology, and sought after as a consultant, speaker, and writer, Cheryl Lemke has designed policy in the state house that translates into sound educational practice in the schoolhouse.