About Us

The National School Attorneys Association (NSAA) is a grassroots, independent, and self-governed network of school attorneys from across the country. We bring together legal professionals who advocate for public schools, offering meaningful connection, collaboration, and support. Through regular webinars, discussions, and timely updates, NSAA keeps members informed and engaged with the ever-evolving legal landscape affecting public schools.

NSAA is an Oklahoma Not for Profit Corporation, with federal 501(c)(3) status pending. NSAA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are available to members.

NSAA Articles of Incorporation

NSAA Bylaws

Our NSAA Board of Directors are instrumental in keeping our national organization growing and running smoothly.

OFFICERS

Chair:

Andrew Manna, Partner Church Church Hittle + Antrim
Andrew@cchalaw.com

(317)414-0792

 

Chair-Elect:

Julie Miller, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel Oklahoma State School Boards Association
juliem@ossba.org

(405) 528-3571

 

Vice Chair:

Katie Anderson, Partner Carrington Coleman
kanderson@ccsb.com
(214) 855-3096

 

Secretary/Treasurer:

Ben Torres, Assistant Executive Director and General Counsel, Tennessee School Boards Associationbtorres@tsba.net
(615) 815-3902

 

Immediate Past Chair:

Debra Silk, Associate Executive Director / General Counsel Montana School Boards Association
dsilk@mtsba.org

406-439-3520

BOARD MEMBERS (2023-2025)

D. Scott Bennett, Attorney at Law Bennett & DeCamp, PLLC
dsb@bennettdecamp.com
(423) 498-3791

A. Lynn Himes, Himes Petrarca & Fester
ahimes@edlawyer.com
(847) 207-4686

Heidi Maynard, Attorney Shareholder Vandeberg Johnson & Gandara, PS
hmaynard@vjglaw.com
(360) 451-5829

 

Jackie Gharapour Wernz, Education Civil Rights
jackie@educationcivilrights.com
469-300-1101

BOARD MEMBERS (2024-2026)

Shelley Chatfield, Chief Legal Officer
Fayette County Public Schools
shelley.chatfield@fayette.kyschools.us
(859) 381-4728

David D. Garner, Osborn Maledon, P.A.
dgarner@omlaw.com
(602) 640-9358

Tiffany Richardson, In-House Counsel, Richland County School District One
tiffany.richardson@richlandone.org
(803) 231-7404

Doug Thorne, District Counsel / Chief of Staff, Elkhart Community Schools
dthorne@elkhart.k12.in.us
(574) 262-5517

NSAA Staff

Sonja Trainor, Executive Director
NSAA
strainor@NSAA.legal

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Cheryl Richardson, Operations Manager, NSAA

crichardson2911@gmail.com

 

Copyright 2025 by National School Attorneys Association

 

Frequently Asked Questions about NSAA Membership:

Is NSAA really independent and self-governed? YES! NSAA is not affiliated with any other organization and is being set up as an independent, self-governed 501(c)(3) focused entirely on the needs and interests of school attorneys – all the legal practice support, none of the politics.

NSAA aligned with one political view? NO! Our national organization includes attorneys from around the country, representing school district clients with every conceivable political viewpoint. Even in the so-called “red” or “blue” states, we have clients with nuanced views, and we believe our work should always be nonpartisan.

 Are state school associations running NSAA? NO! We truly started from scratch – all volunteers. Some of us work at state associations where we have a little more bandwidth to ask our employers for help. For example, we filed as a non-profit corporation in Oklahoma because the Oklahoma Association graciously volunteered to act as NSAA’s fiscal agent. The Montana School Boards Association hosted our listserv and website when we first got off the ground. There are several other state associations and private attorneys who provided either in-kind or monetary support for NSAA. Now that we are regularly receiving dues, we are weaning ourselves off the state-level support. We took a big step in that direction in early June 2024, when we hired Sonja Trainor as Executive Director. Together our operations director, Cheryl Richardson, and Sonja ensure that NSAA operates independently, under the direction of its Board of Directors

Can I be in both COSA and NSAA? YES!

How much will it cost? We are keeping dues as low as possible given that NSAA is a new national organization. For 2025-2026, dues are $275 per attorney. Some state associations have volunteered to collect dues for their states and others will be sending in their dues payments directly to NSAA.

What does NSAA offer? NSAA offers a network of school attorneys across the country working on our shared federal issues and a surprising number of overlapping state issues, sometimes giving all of us a preview of legislation or litigation before we see it in our own states. We have an online platform for keeping connected through the NSAA listserv, regular Zoom meetings to discuss emerging issues, webinars (free to NSAA members), and in-person and virtual conferences offering CLE credits, including legal ethics. Our first virtual conference was held in March 2025 and our third in-person conference will be in Fort Worth, Texas, October 15-17, 2025.

Does NSAA do legal advocacy? Yes! NSAA partners with other national organizations to file amicus briefs -- including three in the Supreme Court thus far in 2025 -- and to offer public comments on issues affecting public school districts. NSAA is a rerespected and sought-after national voice on legal issues affecting public education. Members participate in our advocacy efforts through an advisory committee and through writing and reviewing opportunities.

What are the membership eligibility criteria? Membership in NSAA is open to licensed attorneys who are actively representing on a regular or continuing basis a public school district, a state school boards association, or a public junior or community college which is a member of a state school boards association. The NSAA board may grant associate member status to law students and others per policy.

If you have any questions about membership, please contact Executive Director Sonja Trainor, strainor@nsaa.legal or Operations Manager Cheryl Richardson, crichardson@nsaa.legal.

 

 



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