Dr. Shirley is Superintendent of Lake Ridge New Tech Schools, Calumet Township in Northwest Indiana.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington, IN, a master’s degree from Indiana University Northwest, an administrative license from Purdue University, Calumet Campus, and obtained her doctorate degree from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois. 

Dr. Shirley has worked as a teacher, principal, director of curriculum, assistant superintendent and since 2006 has served as superintendent of Lake Ridge New Tech Schools. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Board of Advisors, Executive Committee Member, and Chair, for Indiana University Northwest.  Dr. Shirley is a member of the Alumni Board of Advisory for Indiana University Bloomington Campus.  Dr. Shirley serves as Ambassador Chair for the Board of Directors for Edgewater Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. She has served as a member of the Executive Board of Indiana Public Schools’ Superintendents and served as Chair for Northwest Superintendents’ Study Council District 1 Chair.  Dr. Shirley has been an Indiana School Safety Specialist since the inception in 1999.  She has been a member of the State Safety Academy’s Advisory Board and a Founding member of the Safe Schools Lake County Commission.  In 2013 Dr. Shirley was appointed by State Superintendent Glenda Ritz to the Indiana Department of Education Special Education Advisory Board and reappointed by Dr. Jennifer McCormick in 2018.  Dr. Shirley is a Founding member of the Lake Ridge Schools’ Education Foundation.

Dr. Shirley was chosen by members of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents as the 2013 and 2014 District I Superintendent of the Year.  In addition, in 2013 and 2016 she was nominated to be a finalist In the Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Awards Ceremony and ultimately won that distinguished honor in 2018.

Transformation Efforts

Lake Ridge Schools was slated for school takeover in 2006, through the auspices of Dr. Tony Bennett.  However, this was unacceptable for Dr. Shirley.  Through strategic planning and thoughtful processing Dr. Shirley successfully led the turn-around-team to a victory of academic success resulting in the school being taken off academic probation.  The success has been maintained to date. With support from her School Board and Leadership Team, she has been able to transform her school district to a recognized district as “An Island of Academic Excellence” as stated by Martha J. Kanter, Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. She has been recognized by the Board of Education of the Lake Ridge Schools for her commitment to excellence. Dr. Shirley has been granted many awards and certifications throughout her educational career.  

Dr. Shirley was very instrumental in planning and sustaining two very important initiatives in her school district.  The first initiative was the planning and creation of a “School Based Health Clinic” that not only services the school but services the local community as well. Secondly, she established the first New Tech High School in Northwest Indiana that has led to the implementation of a New Tech Middle School and two New Tech Elementary Schools.  The New Tech Network uses the district as a national training site. To date her district is noted for being a K-12 New Tech School District.  In 2016, Dr. Shirley is proud to have been able to open a new Athletics Facility that has brought a refreshed sense of school pride and community involvement.

Community Leadership

Dr. Shirley has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority since 1974.  She crossed over at Gamma Nu Chapter at Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana.  She has been an active member of the Gary Alumnae Chapter Inc. and serves on the Political Action Committee. She has been a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Professional Fraternity for over 30 years.  She served as a member of the Lakeshore Alliance for Student Success (LASS), a member of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS Executive Committee), Executive Committee Member in the Indiana Urban Schools Association, member of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative, serves as a member of the Northwest  Indiana Public School Study Council, a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum, Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, Executive Board of the Northwest Indiana Education Service Center (NWIESC), an active member of the National Affiliate of National School Board Association, a member of the Indiana School Boards Association and a member of NABSE National Alliance of Black School Educators. 

Professional development has been a strong asset for Dr. Shirley to stay current and make good decisions about best practices in all areas.  She has professional training in many areas of education including an Administrator Mentor Training Program, Project Peace (Conflict Resolution Management), Stephen R. Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), worked 10 years for HWC Executive Leadership Aspiring Superintendents Summer Institute, and a wealth of other training. She currently is a facilitator for the Indiana Aspiring Superintendents Association. She is a supporter of the American Heart Association, United Way, American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes.  Dr. Shirley serves as a mentor for interns completing their higher degrees in education.

Education & Background

Dr. Shirley earned degrees from Indiana University Bloomington, IN, a master’s degree from Indiana University Northwest, an administrative license from Purdue University, Calumet Campus, and obtained her doctorate degree from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Shirley is married to her wonderful husband, Carlos, and between them they have three daughters, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. 

She believes in the famous quote from Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Listen to podcast episodes featuring Dr. Sharon Johnson-Shirley!

• SOLRS Episode 1
• SOLRS Episode 11