A special education director, a school attorney and a parent attorney walk into an IEP meeting… (Strategies for Effective Collaboration in Special Education Disputes)

Corey Montano Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Corey Montaño has over 20 years in education with 18 in special education. She holds Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Special Education from the University of Arizona where she focused on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and Functional-Based Behavior Interventions. Currently the Director of Exceptional Student Services for Dysart Unified, Corey is on the board of the Arizona Council for Exceptional Children and has taught at the University of Arizona on special education practices, cultural and linguistic diversity and bilingual exceptional learners. She is committed to bridging research and practice in inclusive education and behavioral interventions, presenting at national and state conferences to provide professional development that helps educators and other stakeholders improve outcomes and reduce exclusionary discipline.

Heather Rae Pierson Related Seminars and Products

Udall Shumway PLC

Heather Pierson is a partner at the law firm Udall Shumway PLC in Mesa, AZ. She is a member of the firm’s School Law section, representing the firm’s education law clients throughout the State. Ms. Pierson comes to Udall Shumway PLC uniquely qualified in the area of education law. Prior to joining Udall Shumway, Ms. Pierson taught behavior disordered students. During her teaching career, Ms. Pierson was involved in the development and implementation of Individualized Education Plans (“IEP”) and behavior plans and attended several trainings on special education and regular education interventions and strategies. While in law school, Ms. Pierson provided in-home ABA services for autistic children under the age of three and participated in the Whittier Law School Special Education Clinic, which provided special education advocacy services for children with developmental disabilities. Additionally, Ms. Pierson earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2004. Ms. Pierson primarily focuses her practice on special education and disability related matters. She routinely defends school districts and other public educational institutions in matters related to disability law matters, such as special education due process hearings, Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) complaints, Section 504 due process hearings, mediation, and special education state complaints. She provides daily advice and assistance in matters related to special education, Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, student discipline, personnel issues and student records. Ms. Pierson taught Contemporary Developments in Special Education Law through Northern Arizona University during the Spring of 2014. She has also given in-service workshops to district personnel on a wide range of special education and disability related topics and speaks at state-wide conferences.

Hope N Kirsch Related Seminars and Products

Attorney / Partner

Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC

Hope Kirsch is a founder and managing partner of the law firm Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC, specializing in education law, serving students and their families throughout Arizona in disputes with schools. Hope is a licensed special education teacher and worked in the New York City public schools for 18 years as a special education teacher and school administrator. She practiced litigation in New York, New Jersey and Arizona for over ten years before focusing on education law. She uses her experience in the classroom as well as her trial experience to assist clients with IEPs, 504s, discipline (suspensions, expulsions, MDRs), mediation, OCR Complaints, IDEA Due Process Complaints and appeals. Hope earned a B.S., cum laude, in Special Education from Boston University, an M.A.(Ed.) in special education from New York University and her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. She is admitted in the state and federal courts of Arizona and New York and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Hope is AV-rated and a nationally recognized special education attorney frequently invited to present to and train parents, educators, advocates and attorneys throughout Arizona and around the country. She also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Superior Court of Maricopa County.