interview

Lisa Abel-Palmieri

Innovation in education is the focus of this diverse educator’s prowess By Julie Phillips Randles

Lisa Abel-Palmieri is the director of technology and innovation, head of computer science and director of the Learning Innovation Institute at The Ellis School, an independent, all-girls college-preparatory school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her background is as diverse as her role at Ellis.

Abel-Palmieri worked in industry for the United States Nuclear Navy and

in higher education as an assistant professor and technology transfer expert for more than a decade before joining The Ellis School. She focused her doctoral studies on curriculum development and technology integration.

In addition to her role as cio at The Ellis School, Abel-Palmieri directs

partnerships and helps build innovative teaching and learning practices across

the curricular program. She teaches in both the middle and high schools, and is passionate about helping girls gain creative confidence, learn perseverance and be comfortable taking risks.

Recently, Abel-Palmieri designed the Ellis CoLaboratory, a design think-

ing and collaboration space in the Ellis Upper School. She also launched “The

Active Classroom for Girls,” with a focus on engaging girls in physics and engineering in new and exciting ways.

On Saturdays, Abel-Palmieri is often mentoring Ellis’ steam Powered

Girls, the Middle School First LEGO League robotics team.

Abel-Palmieri is on the board of trustees for Online School for Girls, is a

consortium member for the Center for stem Education for Girls, and is co-

founder of EdcampPGH, an unconference for teachers. She also serves on the Edcamp Foundation’s national public relations committee and is on the plan-

ning committee for the Three Rivers EdTech Conference and the Pittsburgh stem Summit. She is a proud member of the Sprout Fund Kids+Creativity

Photography by Renee Rosensteel

Network.

In 2013, Abel-Palmieri was awarded the Non-Profit cio of the Year Award

by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. She also earned an honorable mention for Leader of the Year from Tech & Learning magazine, and was named a nais Teacher of the Future in 2014.

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