I started in education law in 1983 as a new associate at a large DC law firm fresh out of my judicial clerkship. I spent weeks in Milwaukee reading pages and pages of school board minutes as part of our work in that landmark desegregation litigation.
Since that introduction, I have handled all kinds of education matters for school districts: contracts; employment disputes; land acquisition and condemnation; sexual assault and child abuse; student discipline; special education; contract negotiations involving Superintendent candidates; Board investigations, hearings and governance matters; and others. I have dealt with the press on behalf of Boards; represented districts in Department of Education and DPI investigations; and tried many cases involving school issues.
Through my representation of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Union County, Cumberland County, Randolph County, Buncombe County and other boards and charter schools on various matters over the years, I have found that Superintendents, Board members, and educational professionals value a lawyer who is knowledgeable, experienced, well prepared and an honest broker. Those traits have allowed me to serve as a trusted advisor to many districts and charters in North Carolina.
Having a daughter who has significant developmental delays gives me added credibility when I deal with parents of students with disabilities. I can empathize with them in ways others may not. Because of my daughter Nikki, I have a unique understanding of the fears and motivations of these parents, which helps me immensely in my work for school districts and charters.
Training is a Free Service to My Clients
A well-trained staff of educational professionals can avoid many legal problems and headaches. I happily provide training time for free to my clients. Sometimes they suggest the topic; sometimes I do. I also present nationally on education topics to lawyers and to educators from other states. Recent presentations include:
- Handling the Prescription Pad IEP
- Dealing with Angry Parent Syndrome
- Dealing with Doctors, Lawyers, and Other Creatures of the Night
- Student Discipline Under IDEA and Section 504
- Bullying of Students with Disabilities
- Recognizing and Preventing Sexual Harassment
- Running a Tight IEP Meeting
- Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans
If you would like me to provide training to your district or charter school, just get in touch.
North Carolina Special Education Law Blog
I post regularly to my North Carolina Special Education Law website. Some posts are reports of news items that will interest educational professionals, and other posts are longer, in-depth training pieces on topics like running a well-prepared IEP team meeting or how to conduct a meaningful functional behavioral analysis.
The banner on this page is a detail from Howie's Rainbow by Nikki Middlebrooks.