Keynote Speakers
 Hot Takes: The Year's Best of the Quarterly Legal Updates
This presentation will address the Top Ten court decisions and any agency guidance issued during the past year and featured in the last four quarters of the CASE Weatherly Review Legal Update. "Hot takes" from each of the cases will be provided and will include lessons learned for special educators and their school attorneys. Julie J. Weatherly, Esq. (pictured) is the owner of Resolutions in Special Education, Inc., a special education law and consulting firm in Alabama. Julie is a member of the State Bars of Alabama and Georgia and for over thirty-six years has provided consultation and legal presentations to school agencies across the country in the area of educating students with disabilities. Julie has developed a number of training programs (in-person and virtual) that support special education legal compliance and has been published nationally for her trainings, workshops, and seminars. In June of 1996, Julie appeared on the CBS news program “60 Minutes” to discuss the cost of meeting the legal requirements of IDEA. In 1998, she was honored by Georgia’s CEC as the Individual who had Contributed Most to Students with Disabilities, and in April 2012, Julie received the Award for Outstanding Service from the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE).
Due Process & Other Love Letters: The Top 10 Legal Issues Facing Special Education Administrators
This session will highlight common scenarios and legal challenges faced by special education administrators in an increasingly contentious landscape. We will offer insight on legal compliance and recent caselaw with IDEA and practical guidance on navigating difficult legal situations in special education. Regan Sauls, Attorney at Law, with the Parker Poe Law firm has represented school districts in Georgia since 2006, handling a wide variety of matters such as personnel matters and hearings, responding to Department of Education complaints both state and federal, addressing allegations of discrimination complaints through the Office of Civil Rights and the Equal Opportunity Commission, special education litigation, and advising boards of education on policies and procedures. She also represents private schools and charter schools with unique state and federal law issues. Her practice has included cases before state and federal courts and administrative law judges. Reagan provides legal training for educators and speaks at statewide conferences. Prior to joining Parker Poe, Reagan practiced with the United States Department of Justice. Most recently, Reagan was a partner for a Georgia law firm focusing on all legal matters related to education. Beth Morris, Attorney at Law, with the Parker Poe Law Firm, has represented school districts in Georgia since 2005. She focuses her practice on issues involving children with disabilities, regularly advising clients on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. She represents school districts in due process hearing requests as well as Department of Education and Office for Civil Rights complaints. She often conducts statewide trainings on these issues. Beth’s practice also includes board governance, state and federal litigation, Title IX, personnel and transactional matters, and administrative complaints involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Beth works closely with the Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education and serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Child Protection and Advocacy Committee of the State Bar of Georgia. Before joining Parker Poe, Beth served as a partner for a Georgia firm focusing on education-related legal matters. 
Did You Hear What I Meant?
This general session closes the Academy with laughter, insight, and tools you’ll actually use on Monday morning. Special education leaders and their attorneys will unpack why good relationships still produce crossed wires—and how to translate between legal precision and instructional reality in real time. Through humor, relatable stories, and practical takeaways, you’ll leave with shared language, ready‑to‑use communication tools, and fewer “that’s not what I meant” moments. Stay to the end—you’ll leave clearer, aligned, and energized for the work ahead. Frank Kros, pictured, is a nationally recognized authority on special education law and a retired school district administrator with extensive experience leading special education programs. At the CASE Academy of Law and Leadership, he brings practical, real-world insight that helps administrators navigate complex legal issues, strengthen compliance, and make confident, informed leadership decisions.
|
