NSAA 3rd Annual School Law Conference

October 15-17, 2025, Hilton Fort Worth

Join school attorneys from across the country in Fort Worth this fall—where the legacy of the stockyards meets today’s legal frontier—for a dynamic national conference focused on the most pressing issues in education law. Earn up to 10.5 CLE hours, including one hour of Ethics, as you gain practical insights from seasoned colleagues on fast-evolving developments in federal civil rights law and foundational topics like conducting effective investigations. Along the way, reconnect with longtime colleagues, build new professional relationships, and soak in the unique character of Cowtown. You’ll head home informed, inspired, and ready to help your school clients navigate whatever lies on the horizon. If you’ve been waiting for the right school law conference, this is the one to ride into.

If you're not yet a member of NSAA and regularly represent public school boards or community colleges, we encourage you to join NSAA and to get member pricing for the conference.

NSAA 3rd Annual Conference Program
Wednesday, October 15
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM	The Corral Check-in Registration	West Promenade, 2nd Floor
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM	Hitching Post Huddle NSAA Member State Association Counsel Meeting and Lunch Separate registration required.	Texas AB, 3rd Floor
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM	Hitching Post Huddle NSAA Member In House Counsel Meeting and Lunch Separate registration required.	Texas CD, 3rd Floor
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM	Munch & Mosey Networking break	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
2:20 PM – 2:45 PM	Welcome to the Stockyards! Opening Remarks from the Big Corral	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
2:45 PM – 4:00 PM	Big Corral General Session 1: Calm After the Storm? How Federal Directives and Resulting Litigation Have – or Haven’t – Changed School Policy Following a wave of federal action earlier this year, schools have entered a new academic year facing a changed legal and policy landscape. How have recent directives on DEI programs and gender identity policies, federal funding cuts, and staffing reductions at the Department of Education affected school districts' legal footing? And how are experienced school attorneys advising their clients now that the dust has begun to settle? In this session, three veteran practitioners share insights, practical strategies, and level-headed guidance for navigating the road ahead. Moderator: David Rubin, Busch Law Group, Metuchen, NJ Panelists: Joy Baskin, Texas Association of School Boards, Austin, TX; Scott Bennett, Bennett & DeCamp, Chattanooga, TN	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
4:10 PM – 5:10 PM	Big Corral General Session 2: Student Free Speech Rights - What All School Attorneys Should Know The First Amendment continues to shape how public schools navigate student expression. An experienced general counsel and school lawyer will revisit key First Amendment issues, examine how they have played out in schools, and provide an update on recent developments to help school attorneys address emerging questions in student speech and expression. Chris Gilbert, Thompson & Horton, Houston, TX; Justin Graham, Katy ISD, Katy, TX	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
5:10 PM – 6:10 PM	Howdy Hour Welcome Reception	West Promenade, 2nd Floor
Thursday, October 16
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM	The Corral Check-in Registration	West Promenade, 2nd Floor
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM	First Light Forum Section 504/IDEA Committee Meeting NSAA members welcome	Continental, 3rd Floor
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM	First Light Forum Advocacy Committee Meeting NSAA members welcome	Texas AB, 3rd Floor
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM	Sun-up Spread Breakfast	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM	Big Corral General Session 3: Redefining Religious Freedom in Public Schools: The Court’s Expanding Free Exercise Doctrine With the Trinity Lutheran–Espinoza–Carson trilogy, Kennedy, and now Mahmoud, the Supreme Court is steadily broadening Free Exercise rights in the context of public education. The Court appears poised to continue reshaping the legal boundaries between religion and public schools in upcoming cases. What do these recent rulings—and those on the horizon—mean for public schools’ obligations and limits when it comes to funding, religious accommodations, and church-state tensions? This session unpacks key decisions, emerging legal standards, and the practical implications for school attorneys advising public school clients in this shifting constitutional landscape. Moderator: Mark Tilley, Texas Association of School Boards, TX Julie Miller, Oklahoma State School Boards Assistants, OK Other panelists TBA	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
9:40 AM – 10:40 AM	Big Corral General Session 4: If, When, Who, and How to Conduct An Investigation – Tales from the Trenches and Best Practices to Explore This session will give the in-house counsel and outside counsel perspectives on conducting investigations on everything from the goals of an investigation, policies to have in place now that will guide most investigations, each step in conducting an investigation, and recommendations for implementation and follow-up after the investigation. The speakers provide useful insights on when an internal investigation team may be the best option, and when outside counsel is more appropriate. Katie Anderson, Carrington Coleman, Dallas, TX Lisa Ray, General Counsel, Garland ISD, TX	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
10:50 AM – 11:50 AM	Big Corral General Session 5: Mental Health, the ADA, and Employee Discipline: Guiding the Interactive Process Public school districts are increasingly facing legal challenges when disciplining employees with disclosed mental health conditions. The intersection of the Americans with Disabilities Act and employee discipline presents unique challenges, including determining when a mental health condition qualifies as a disability, engaging in the interactive process, and assessing whether employees are protected when conduct is at issue. This session will provide an in-depth look at best practices for engaging in the interactive process, ensuring compliance with the ADA requirements, and fostering an inclusive workplace. Andrea W. Paris, Dr. Sarah S. Flournoy, Bracket & Ellis P.C., Fort Worth, TX Cory Rush, Spalding Nichols, Houston, TX	Crystal A/B/C, 2nd Floor
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM	Roundup and Roster NSAA Business Meeting and Election	Crystal A/B/C, 2nd Floor
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM	Special Lunch Discussion: Project Unity - Together We Dine Separate registration required.	Texas A/B, 3rd Floor
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM	Blaze Your Own Trail Lunch on your own	Offsite
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM	Big Corral General Session 6: Dealing with Dangerous Students in Schools: What are the Legal Options and Answers? With the sharp rise in students experiencing significant mental health challenges, school personnel and their attorneys face complex questions about how to respond when a student’s escalating behavior threatens the safety of others—or the student themselves. These challenges are especially acute when the student has a disability. This session will provide a clear overview of the statutory and regulatory framework governing the discipline of dangerous students with disabilities, address frequently asked questions, and offer guidance for situations involving students with disabilities and those not identified as such. Julie Weatherly, Resolutions in Special Education, Inc., Mobile, AL Dana Collins, Jefferson County Public Schools, KY	Crystal A/B/C, 2nd Floor
3:25 PM – 4:25 PM	Big Corral General Session 7: Parents’ Bill of Rights & Responsibilities Across Texas and the nation, state legislatures have introduced proposals aimed at codifying a "Parents’ Bill of Rights." But would these measures meaningfully change the rights parents already hold under existing law? This session takes a deep dive into the current legal framework governing parental rights and responsibilities in public education. We’ll also examine how schools can proactively set expectations for parent conduct and explore legal options when parents threaten staff or disrupt school operations. Christie Hobbs, Northwest Independent School District, TX D’Ann Bey, Lewisville Independent School District, TX Jessica Billingsley, Church Church Hittle & Antrim, Noblesville, IN	Crystal A/B/C, 2nd Floor
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM	Sundown Social Reception	Skylight Court, 2nd Floor
Friday, October 17
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM	The Corral Check-in Registration	West Promenade, 2nd Floor
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM	Sun-up Spread Breakfast	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM	Big Corral General Session 8: Litigation Trends: Educating Students with Disabilities School districts face increasing liability risks in litigation involving students with disabilities. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions in Fry, Perez, and now A.J.T., it has become easier in many cases to plead and prove discrimination claims, raising the stakes in disputes over identification, evaluation, services, and placement. This session offers a timely overview of recent case law and emerging litigation trends. Three seasoned practitioners will share insights to help all school attorneys navigate this evolving and high-stakes area of practice. Jonathan Brush, Pam Kaminsky, Rogers, Morris & Grover, Houston, TX Monica Conrad, Lewis Kappes, Indianapolis, IN	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM	Big Corral General Session 9: What the Heck is Going on with Title IX? Title IX continues to evolve, creating a complex and sometimes confusing landscape for K-12 school attorneys. This session will unpack the most recent legal developments surrounding Title IX, including the impact of new leadership at the Department of Education, changes to regulations and state laws, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and more. Whether you're dealing with Title IX compliance head-on or preparing for potential litigation, this session will provide the insights and tools necessary to navigate this ever-shifting area of law with confidence. Jackie Wernz, Education Civil Rights Solutions, Dallas, TX Additional Panelists TBA	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Big Corral General Session 10: Take a Breath: Ethics Tips from a Toddler Parent Just like new parents, school law attorneys have been through it over the past year+. Waiting for change, processing change, and then responding to change at the federal, state, and local levels can cause (and has caused!) significant distress for attorneys professionally and personally. Adjusting to so much change all at once is a challenge. In this one-hour ethics session, attendees will consider how some of life’s lessons outside of the law – such as parenting a toddler – transfer to our duties to serve our clients with diligence and competence (even if they refuse to follow our advice and eat their vegetables).	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor
12:00 PM	Happy Trails: ‘Til We Ride Again Closing Remarks	Crystal ABC, 2nd Floor

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