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AMY LEECH CLENDENNEN is an attorney in the law firm of Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt PC, where she practices primarily in the areas of education, litigation, and labor and employment law. She advises Missouri school districts on a variety of topics including special education law. Ms. Clendennen has successfully represented school districts, colleges and universities, and private employers before State and Federal Courts and administrative agencies, including the Equal Opportunity Commission, Missouri Commission on Human Rights, and the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. She is a regular presenter at state and regional education conferences, and has published numerous articles on topics relating to education. Ms. Clendennen earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Truman State University; her M.A. degree from Ball State University; and her J.D. degree from Washington University School of Law. Ms. Clendennen is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois. THOMAS A. DURPHY is a partner in the law firm of Kohn, Shands, Elbert, Gianoulakis & Giljum, LLP. He has assisted in representing various entities in commercial litigation, including complex litigation; insurance coverage; toxic torts; contract interpretation; and personal injury. Mr. Durphy has assisted in representing public school districts with respect to local government and zoning issues, special education and IDEA, construction law, and other issues. He also has advised public school districts, private employers and medical practices regarding policies, procedures, and compliance issues related to the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA. Mr. Durphy earned his B.A. degree from Syracuse University, and his J.D. degree from St. Louis University. He is admitted to practice in Missouri and Illinois. Mr. Durphy is a member of The Missouri Bar (member, Professionalism Committee), the Illinois State and American (member, Business Law and Individual Rights and Responsibilities sections) bar associations, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (member, Individual Rights, Responsibilities and Litigation Committee). DR. ROSALIND SCHOPPET graduated from University of Missouri-Saint Louis with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. Her teaching experience was in the Saint Louis Public School District and University City School District. During that time, she attended Maryville University and graduated with a Master of Arts in Education Leadership/Principalship. Shortly after graduation, she became an elementary school assistant principal in the Francis Howell School District. During the four years at FHSD, she supervised the special education department, participated in IEP meetings, and attended a vast amount of special education professional development. In addition, she attended Maryville University's newly developed Education Leadership/Superintendent Doctoral Cohort Program. During her schooling at Maryville University, she became a graduate assistant, an adjunct professor, and supervisor of student teachers. Soon after her doctoral graduation, she became a principal for a k-8 private school at Solomon Schechter Day School. Most recently, at University of Missouri- Saint Louis, Dr. Schoppet was an adjunct professor, a presenter on differentiation for teachers in Saint Louis area schools, and supervised and placed interns and student teachers in school districts and private schools. Presently, she is self-employed at Schoppet Special Education Advisory Services, where she provides a variety of assistance. For example, she partners with schools and parents/guardians to provide advice, knowledge, resources, support, and facilitation before, during, and after IEP and/or team meetings. JAMES G. THOMECZEK is a partner in the law firm of Thomeczek & Brink, LLC. He has more than twenty years of experience representing public school districts and private schools. Mr. Thomeczek is a graduate of St. Louis University School of Law, from which he was graduated cum laude. He was admitted into the Order of the Woolsack for his "high scholastic achievement in the study of Law." Prior to entering law school, he was a teacher in the Pattonville School District in St. Louis County. There, he taught English at both the high school and middle school level. Mr. Thomeczek holds a Master of Arts degree from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), and a B.A. degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is a nationally known authority on special education law. Mr. Thomeczek has made presentations at conferences, such as the National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys and the National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Children with Disabilities, as well as at the Franklin Pierce School of Law. In Missouri, the Missouri School Boards Association selected him to pilot its instructional video program, and the Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education recognized him for his outstanding commitment and service to special education in the state. He regularly presents at the annual meeting of the Missouri Council of School Attorneys. Mr. Thomeczek has taught or lectured at St. Louis University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis (where he has also served on a Ph.D. dissertation committee), the University of Missouri- Kansas City and Truman State University. He has served as the chair of the School Law Committee of the Bar Association of Metropolitan School District, the chair of the Missouri Council of School Attorneys, and a two-term chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Mr. Thomeczek has represented school districts in administrative and judicial proceedings. He has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and has filed memoranda with the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Thomeczek has argued numerous cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and has presented arguments in all three divisions of the Missouri Court of Appeals. DAVID T. WILLARD is an attorney in the law firm of Thomeczek & Brink, LLC. Mr. Willard worked thirty-one years in public schools as a special educator. He has served as a special education teacher at the junior high school and senior high school levels, assistant principal, elementary principal, secondary principal at a vocational school, special education director, assistant superintendent for special education, and interim superintendent of a special school district. He has a Bachelor of Science in Education degree, with honors, from the Kansas State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) training to be a special education teacher. He obtained a Master of Science in Education degree at the University of Kansas, with additional special education training in the area of specific learning disabilities. He earned his Doctorate of Philosophy degree at St. Louis University, with emphasis in the area of school administration. Mr. Willard has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, teaching graduate level courses on mental retardation, specific learning disabilities, and special education transition and at Webster University, teaching graduate level courses on educational leadership and school administration. He is a frequent presenter on special education topics, special education law, and No Child Left Behind. He has made five presentations at the National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Children with Disabilities, numerous presentations at the Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education Fall Conference and Spring Law Conference, numerous presentations at the Missouri Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children, and numerous other presentations across Missouri. Mr. Willard has been recognized as an outstanding special educator by the Missouri Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children through the presentation of the Joan Davis Special Merit Award. He has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education. He is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children, the Council of Administrators of Special Education, and the Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education. He is also a founding member of the Missouri School Boards' Association, Special Education Advocacy Council.
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