Our education attorneys regularly conduct individually crafted training sessions for administrators, supervisors, and teachers regarding their obligations to employees and students. Ideally, the training should be in person, if possible, to ensure maximum engagement of your community. However, if in person training is not feasible for your school, we can conduct these sessions remotely, ensuring an effective interactive experience.
AVAILABLE TRAINING SESSIONS
ESSENTIAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Independent and private schools should provide yearly “back to school” training for employees during the first week of back-to-school planning and orientation. This ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding important topics, which at a minimum should include training on student-adult boundaries, child abuse recognition and reporting, and employee harassment. Training on these topics typically reduces claims for schools because your community is more on alert and knowledgeable about improper behavior. In the unfortunate event claims are asserted, this training can be used as an important part of your school’s defense.
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Adult/Student Interactions: Participants will work through several boundary crossing scenarios and learn about the potential liability that could arise from even well-intended interactions. They will receive concrete guidelines on various types of behaviors, including touching, personal communications, texting, social media, and a various of other issues.
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Harassment: This program provides employees with an understanding of how their actions can impact the comfort of other employees, parents, and students; how to avoid problematic communications and actions; and how to professionally advise coworkers when coworkers’ behavior is problematic, how to appropriately report concerns of potential harassment or non-professional actions. The trainer will also discuss how the school will address concerns reported.
- Child Abuse: This program discusses one of the most difficult areas for School administrators and faculty: how to identify the signs and symptoms of child abuse.
The program provides guidance on how to establish internal procedures for responding to these allegations as well as a comprehensive discussion of the School’s state law reporting obligations.
ESSENTIAL BACK TO SCHOOL TRAINING FOR BOARDS
Trustee Orientation and Governance Refresher
New trustees are oriented to their duties and legal responsibilities as fiduciaries to the school in this training. The job description of a trustee and how to handle tricky conversations or scenarios is also covered. In the governance refresher, new and returning trustees are reminded of governance best practices as well as the boards and individual trustee’s legal obligations.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL TRAINING FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS
Properly Managing the School’s Obligations with Employees, Parents, and Students
Part I of this comprehensive program covers all the federal and state laws that govern the School’s relationship with its faculty and staff. We discuss:
- Hiring Phase: Hiring documentation, interviewing, background investigations, and reference checks.
- Employment Processes: Harassment, discrimination, family leave laws, and disability issues.
- Effective Documentation: Coaching, counseling, disciplining and terminating/not renewing employees.
Part II covers all the federal and state laws that govern the School’s relationship with its students including, if applicable, the Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title IX, Section 1981 (race/national origin), as well as state contract and tort claims. We cover:
- Admissions and Enrollment: Proper admissions procedures and enrollment contracts.
- Documentation: Student handbooks
- Student Processes: Harassment, bullying, sexual abuse, investigations and discipline, and confidentiality
and privacy issues. - Parent Engagement: Navigating complex parent situations with confidence, including addressing challenging interactions, fostering respectful communication, and supporting positive student behavior outcomes.