Episodes

Presenters - John Worthington, Esq., LEGAL ONE Education Law Specialist; Geta Vogel, LEGAL ONE Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator This episode will address the legal requirements for addressing threats and dangerousness when working with students with disabilities. The unique legal requirements for disciplining and removing these students when the student is considered a danger or threat will be reviewed. In addition, the legal requirements for assessing and addressing potential threats in ...

Presenter - David Nash, Esq., Director of LEGAL ONE and National Outreach, FEA This episode will review key legal parameters for addressing religious expression in school and at school events for both students and staff, in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton.

Presenters - David Nash, Esq. Director of LEGAL ONE and National Outreach, FEA; Robyn Gigl, Esq., Partner, Gluck Walrath LLP This episode will review key legal requirements and best practices related to supporting transgender students in our schools, including a review of student confidentiality rights, ensuring a gender inclusive curriculum, addressing name changes, access to locker rooms and restrooms, and responding to acts of bullying and discrimination.

Presenter - Sandra Jacques, Esq., LLM, LEGAL ONE Supervisor of Legal Research and Content Development This episode will address the steps of Progressive Discipline required for staff that have issues with excessive absenteeism and/or tardiness. Recent TEACHNJ Cases will demonstrate how Arbitrators analyze Conduct Unbecoming Claims for these situations, and will provide guidance as to the Due Process rights of the staff member.

Presenter - Michael Kaelber, Esq., LEGAL ONE Coordinator of Online Course Development This episode will review key changes to New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights that have gone into effect for the 2022-23 school year, including new requirements related to staff reporting protocols, responding to students engaged in multiple incidents of bullying, initiating investigations, and potential parent liability.

Presenters - John Worthington, Esq., LEGAL ONE Education Law Specialist; Geta Vogel, LEGAL ONE Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator In this episode, we will discuss important dates and tasks with respect to claims for compensatory services arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 - September 1, 2021) and the tasks all districts must complete as part of unique legal requirements for this time period. The need to hold meetings for all students and document IEP team determinations and the ...

Presenters - David Nash, Esq. Director of LEGAL ONE and National Outreach, FEA; Ellen Bass, Esq., Of Counsel, Busch Law Group In this episode, Ellen Bass shares insights from her career in school law, spanning more than 40 years, including her time as an Administrative Law Judge and school board attorney. Judge Bass reviews common mistakes in how school officials prepared for and conducted hearings, and shares tips for reducing the potential for litigation.

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Nash, Esq., LEGAL ONE Director and Wayne Yankus, MD In this episode, listeners will learn about the latest developments regarding health Protocols for school districts as districts open for the 2022-23 school year, including a review of the latest Executive Order signed by the Governor and the most recent guidance from the CDC and New Jersey Department of Health.

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Nash, Esq., LEGAL ONE Director interviews Maureen Brogan, LPC, ACS, DAAETS, DRCC, Statewide Coordinator, Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. In this episode, learn about key considerations and strategies for educators, counselors and parents about how to discuss the horrific events in Uvalde, Texas and other school shootings with children. Listeners will hear about key tips for h...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Nash, Esq., LEGAL ONE Director interviews Jeff Gale, Director, Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning, NJDOE. In this episode, learn about the trends and key lessons that have emerged related to school shootings over the past two decades, and key information emerging from the horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Listeners will also learn about the specific resources available to support schools related ...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Nash, Esq., LEGAL ONE Director interviews Teresa Taylor, PhD BCBA-D CCTP, Director of Special Services, Jackson Township Public Schools. In this episode, learn about the critical importance of conducting both threat assessments and risk assessments for students who are showing signs of either suicidal ideation or homicidal ideation. Listeners will learn about research that documents the high likelihood that students who en...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Derek Black, Esq., Professor of Law, South Carolina School of Law and author, Schoolhouse Buring: Public Education and the Assault on Democracy In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews Derek Black, Esq., Professor of Law at South Carolina School of Law. Professor Black is the author of a leading education law casebook, Educati...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Rosie Grant; Executive Director, Paterson Education Fund; Kaleena Berryman, Executive Director, Abbott Leadership Institute In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews Rosie Grant; Executive Director of the Paterson Education Fund, and Kaleena Berryman, Executive Director of the Abbott Leadership Institute. Ms. Grant and Ms. Berr...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Elise Boddie, Esq., Founder and Director of The Inclusion Project, Rutgers Law School In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews Elise Boddie, Esq., Founder and Director of The Inclusion Project at Rutgers Law School. Ms. Boddie is an award-winning legal scholar and a full-time law professor at Rutgers Law School in Newark where...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Gary Stein, Esq., Former Justice, New Jersey Supreme Court, Special Counsel, Pashman, Stein, Walder, Hayden In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein, who served on New Jersey’s highest court for 17 years from 1985 to 2002. During Justice Stein's tenure, the New Jersey Supreme ...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Theresa Luhm, Esq., Managing Director, Education Law Center; Steve Morlino, CEFM, LEED AP, School Facilities Management Consultant In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews two leading experts on school facilities and the law. Theresa Luhm, Esq., is Managing Director, Education Law Center; and Steve Morlino, CEFM, LEED AP, Scho...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Ellen Frede, Senior Co-Director, National Institute for Early Education Research, Rutgers University In this episode, Ellen Frede, who is the Senior Co-Director of the National Institute on Early Education Research at Rutgers University discusses the landmark Abbott VI decision handed down by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2000, which ordered the implementation of h...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Silvia Abbatto, Superintendent, Union City Public Schools In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews Silvia Abbato, who is the first woman and first person of Hispanic descent to serve as Superintendent for the Union City School District. This episode examines the impact of the New Jersey Supreme Court's landmark 1998 Abbott V d...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; David Aderhold, Ed.D., Superintendent, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District; Anthony Trongone, Superintendent, Millville Public Schools In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews two superintendents - Tony Trongone, Superintendent of Millville Public Schools, and Dr. David Aderhold, Superintendent of West Windsor-Pla...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenter: Larry Lustberg, Esq., Co-Director, Gibbons Fellowship in Public Interest & Constitutional Law, Gibbins Law Firm In this episode, Education Law Center Executive Director David Sciarra interviews Larry Lustberg, now an attorney at the Gibbons law firm in Newark, New Jersey. Larry was a key player in the early days of the Abbott v. Burke litigation, and discusses the historic Abbott II decision in 1990, in which the New Jersey Supre...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Sciarra, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center; Paul Tractenberg, Esq., Founder of the Education Law Center and Professor Emeritus, Rutgers Law School In this episode, former Rutgers Law School Professor and founder of the Education Law Center, Paul Tractenberg, who was truly a pioneer in New Jersey and nationally. Professor Tractenberg discusses the incredible disparities in educational quality that existed and w...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Nash, Esq., LEGAL ONE Director; Mandi Zucker, Founder and President at Inner Harbor and Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be a devastating experience. For school staff members who spend so much of their time focused on supporting the needs of students, it is critical that school districts have in place strong support systems to support those staff when they suffer a personal loss...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Nash, Esq., LEGAL ONE Director; Susan Coyle, MA; Middlesex County Traumatic Loss Coalition Coordinator; Kathy Shoemaker, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Rutgers Graduate School of Education Given the increasing demands placed on educators and school leaders in these unprecedented times, school staff face significant risk of burning out, lashing out or losing empathy for students, parents an...

Click here to view resources discussed in this episode Presenters: David Nash, Esq., LEGAL ONE Director; Susan Coyle, MA; Middlesex County Traumatic Loss Coalition Coordinator. As we work through a global pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of staff dealing with mental health needs. It can be difficult to assess your own needs and to know how to support your colleagues. This session will provide key tips for identifying those staff in need and tips to support your need...