Dr. Abshier was a district leader in Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) for 17 years, coordinating PBIS, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), behavior support team, health services, bullying prevention, Section 504, Code of Student Conduct, alternative educational placements, and providing professional development related to problem-solving/response to intervention, MTSS, early warning systems, classroom management, verbal de-escalation, physical intervention, and PBIS. During her tenure with MCPS, Dr. Abshier was the supervising administrator for the education of detained and incarcerated youth, home education, virtual school, a teen parenting program with childcare, academic fast track for overage/unit-deficient middle school students, and contract management of four alternative schools. Additional, Dr. Abshier coordinated implementation (in MCPS) of the first random control trial study of the Interconnected Systems Framework, federally funded by the National Institute of Justice (https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/interconnecting-pbis-and-school-mental-health-improve-school-safety-randomized)

Dr. Abshier is a past Research Study Chair for the Public Policy Institute of Marion County (https://ppiofmarioncounty.org/studies)and served on the Board of Directors as Secretary for Hands of Mercy Everywhere (H.O.M.E) for six years. She is also a past: Board member for Christian Counseling Associates and Belleview Christian Academy, PTO President at Eighth Street Elementary School, Treasurer and President of the Florida Association of Student Services Administrators. Dr. Abshier has been a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at the University of Florida and an invited presenter at state, national, and international conferences in her field.

Dr. Abshier and her husband, both born in Ocala, married in 1996, and have three adult sons.