Washington, District of Columbia, United States
With a strong foundation as an Education and School law Attorney, I bring a deep commitment to advancing equity and excellence in education. My professional and academic journey is fueled by my personal experiences in two vastly different Dallas County school districts, one excelling, the other underperforming. This unique perspective has shaped my passion for dismantling systemic inequities and advocating for transformative change in the education system. Throughout my career, I have honed a comprehensive understanding of school law, policy implementation, and civil rights issues. From providing legal guidance on student discipline, advising on school and student policies, to co-founding programs that directly address disparities in underperforming schools, my work is driven by a mission to ensure every student has access to quality education. My ability to navigate complex legal challenges and achieve favorable outcomes, even in unfamiliar or new legal territories, speaks to my adaptability, resilience, and unwavering focus on justice and equity. I am also a self-starter and recovering entrepreneur, with experience building initiatives from the ground up and collaborating effectively across diverse teams. These skills reflect my versatility and dedication to creating meaningful, lasting impacts. I am eager to connect with professionals and organizations committed to education reform, civil rights advocacy, and systemic change. Together, we can drive progress and make education a tool of empowerment for all.
Reporting to the General Counsel, I provide daily legal and policy guidance to Washington, DC’s largest charter system on topics ranging from student policy, school safety, bullying, FERPA, and Title IX. I also manage sensitive student and family matters, collaborating with external agencies, such as child protective services, and ensure due process and equity in school-level discipline and expulsion appeals. I oversee investigations involving students, and revise and/or draft policies, including the organization’s first Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming policy.
Investigate schools for misconduct by performing legal research, reviewing evidence, and drafting memoranda to include recommendations to grant relief of student loan forgiveness to borrowers who were misled by higher education institutions.
Operated an online and brick and mortar shoe store that curated a collection of women shoes primarily from independent shoe designers; Discovered new shoe designers through research and attendance at trade shows to discover new brands or lines to offer to the customer base; Created marketing campaigns implemented on various outlets such as through email marketing and social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest; Managed independent contractors, employees, and interns for store operations and through project completion; Drafted operation and employee manuals, partnership agreement, other contracts, and registered trademarks.
Drafted over 1,500 memorandums supported by administrative hearings and evidence addressing all medical and legal aspects of the case appropriate for issuance to a legal audience and to claimants alleging disability; Communicated with Administrative Law Judges about my rationale and findings on the relevant issues in the case and ensured that the decisions were consistent with the Social Security Administration Act, the Agency’s regulations, rulings, and other policies; Performed one-on-one peer mentoring and training duties involving sensitive and/or legally complex cases, as well as researched and identified unusual issues raised in cases; Received multiple awards for delivering exemplary performance on quality decisions.
Contributed to litigation preparation by providing risk assessments, fulfilled FOIA requests, conducted research on “Pay to Play” statutes, and drafted legal memoranda based on the Uniform Act and personnel actions brought before the Merit Systems Protection Board, which resulted in a favorable decision for the agency.