Presenters

Amy June Rowley, the young deaf student who was the subject of the famous landmark 1982 IDEA case, Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley in which it was determined that IDEA did not require that she receive an ASL interpreter to benefit from public education. Her inside story of the case and how it impacted her is fascinating. She is currently a professor at California State University East Bay and is completing her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin.

William Thro, Solicitor General of Virginia, who has recently appeared in the US Supreme Court, will be predicting for us the upcoming decisions of the Roberts Supreme Court and other federal courts regarding education, with an update on recent case law from Pontiac Michigan that possibly has the potential to radically alter, perhaps even abolish state responsibilities to comply with NCLB in the Sixth Circuit.

Charles Russo, J.D., Ed.D., Professor, University of Dayton, Past President of the Education Law Association, and author of innumerable journal articles and several key texts and textbooks on education law and special education law, will present a Supreme Court and Federal Courts update on recent cases that have occurred in the last two years that affect education.

Carol Lear of the Utah State Office of Education, Director of Government and Legislative Relations, will present on lessons learned in our recent voucher referendum experience, with a focus on the legal rights and duties of teachers and administrators in public schools regarding speaking on matters of public and political concern during a political campaign, or on any polemic issue.

Fred Hartmeister, Dean of the Graduate School at Texas Tech University will present on the legal and leadership issues surrounding cyber bullying and misuse by students of technology, including misuse of cell phones and trading pictures by students on cell phone cameras.

There will be a poster session on best practices in education law issues by the members of the Leadership Preparation Program, who are currently all serving as Principals or Assistant Principals while participating in an intensive education law course.