Gretchen M. Shipley

A highly regarded education technology law leader, Gretchen Shipley guides school districts and other organizations in California and nationwide on data privacy, cyber security and safety issues and on the promotion of cyber-citizenship in the school community. As chair of the firm’s eMatters practice group, Gretchen delivers training to students, employees and district leaders on an array of matters. They include the acquisition process of new technology, online instruction, E-Rate compliance and the business aspects of school technology. She also represents private companies and schools in the education software sector.

With broad knowledge and natural problem-solving skills, Gretchen draws on her business law background to advise on a wide variety of procurement, facilities, personnel, student discipline and governance issues. Her litigation and administrative hearing experience in civil rights, school construction and employment law enhances her ability to draft board policies and staff handbooks and counsel school organizations through employee investigations and disciplinary processes. Several clients retain Gretchen as their general counsel, including California IT in Education, or CITE, and its 1,000 school-district members.

In recent years, Gretchen has emerged as a thought leader on cutting-edge topics at the intersection of law and cyberspace. These include safety considerations and other issues stemming from school-sanctioned online gaming programs and competitions; privacy controversies connected to law enforcement’s surveillance of schools, particularly during crises; and emerging concerns arising from the development of educational applications of the virtual-reality metaverse, which Gretchen refers to as the “eduverse.”

A popular and in-demand public speaker on education technology, cyber-citizenship and other topics, Gretchen frequently makes presentations in education and law conferences, symposia, seminars, webinars and trainings. In addition, she works closely with the California Association of School Business Officials to deliver workshops purchasing, public bidding, construction and other issues.