Celynda L. Brasher
Margaret A. HesseTueth Keeney attorneys are often in demand as speakers and presenters for their expertise on legal topics. In January, Tueth Keeney attorneys Tom Tueth, Melanie Gurley Keeney, Celynda Brasher, Pete Yelkovac, and Margaret Hesse presented a legal update on current school law issues, at the 2005 MUSIC Membership Meeting.
The legal update addressed a number of critical school law areas, including: Employee Contracts, Non-renewals, Discipline and Terminations; Title IX; Religion and Equal Access Act; Business Contracts; IDEA Reauthorization (the “big” picture); and Student Threats. The update was held at MUSIC’s Annual Membership Meeting, January 27 and 28, 2005 at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri.
The Missouri United School Insurance Council (“MUSIC”) is a protected self-insurance pooling program for Missouri school districts. Its membership includes over 400 Missouri school districts and community colleges, representing approximately 75% of the school districts in the state. Tueth Keeney regularly represents MUSIC member school districts in school law and litigation matters. For more information on MUSIC and its programs, see its website at www.musicprogram.org.
Thomas E. Tueth practices in the areas of education, higher education, labor and employment and civil litigation law. Tom’s experience includes representation of public school districts, colleges and universities, private schools and not-for-profit organizations throughout Missouri. He counsels and speaks to school officials on a wide variety of topics including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, contracts and tenure, rights of students, negligence and general liability, church and state, school finance and employee organizational matters. Tom provides ongoing advice to dozens of public school districts, private schools and institutions of higher education.
Melanie Keeney practices in the areas of Employment, Immigration, and Education law. Melanie represents institutions of higher education, corporations and individuals in immigration law matters, including obtaining nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and handling employer sanctions issues, I-9 compliance, E-Verify issues, consular processing and naturalization. She frequently speaks on immigration, labor and education issues. Melanie has been listed in St. Louis Magazine’s “St. Louis Best Lawyers” and “The Best Lawyers in America,” from 1997-2008, and in “Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers,” 2005-2008 editions as a top lawyer and one of the top 50 female lawyers in Missouri and Kansas and in Kansas City Magazine as one of the “Top Missouri Lawyers.”
Celynda L. Brasher practices in the areas of education, labor and employment law. She represents school districts in employment and termination matters, student rights and discipline, special education, school finance, civil rights, contracts, church/state issues, and Hancock Amendment challenges. She represents public and private employers in discrimination defense, union organization, unemployment compensation, wage/hour compliance and terminations. Celynda has litigation experience in state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
Pete Yelkovac practices in the areas of education and employment law. Pete regularly counsels public school districts in all facets of education and employment law. Pete also regularly advises private employers on employment and labor issues. Pete has successfully defended numerous federal and state lawsuits on behalf of public school districts, universities and private employers. He has extensive experience litigating employment discrimination lawsuits and Section 1983 claims involving a variety of constitutional issues.
Margaret Hesse primarily practices in the areas of education law, employment law and litigation. She has represented school districts in employment matters, including Title VII, the Safe Schools Act, Title IX, and the Equal Pay Act. She has represented employers in labor matters before the United States Department of Labor/Wage and Hour Division and the Illinois Commission of Human Rights.
Missouri Education – The law firm of Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. (the “Firm”), has one of the largest and most successful education law groups in the country. The Firm regularly serves the legal counsel needs of approximately 150 school districts throughout Missouri. The Firm also has one of the largest school law practices in Central and Southern Illinois.