Merry RhoadesAttorneys from Tueth Keeney often contribute their time and talents on a voluntary basis to educate and inform their colleagues. On October 11, 2006, firm shareholder Merry Rhoades spoke at the 10th Annual Southern Illinois University School Law Conference. The purpose of the conference is for school administrators to learn about recent case rulings, assist administrators in translating case law into policy, explain new trends in Illinois school law and protect the school district from legal liability.
The conference took place on the campus of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Merry presentation titled “Discipline of Special Education Students After the IDEA Improvement Act of 2004” proved extremely timely and was well received by the over 260 administrators in attendance.
Merry C. Rhoades focuses her practice on general counsel services with an emphasis on special education law and student-related issues, school district reorganization matters and tax and finance matters. Because of her more than 20 years experience in representing Illinois public school districts, she has key insights regarding the day-to-day operation of the school district. She has extensive experience in special education administrative hearings, civil rights litigation, state and federal court litigation at the trial and appellate levels, and state administrative hearings.
Merry is an active member of several school related organizations. She is a member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys Executive Committee and currently serves as its 1st Vice Chairperson and she is a service member to the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). She serves as an Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) PRESS advisory committee member. Merry has been asked to speak for such organizations as the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE), the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), the Illinois Principal’s Association (IPA) and the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) on numerous school related issues.
Tueth Keeney is proud to be one of the state’s largest Illinois education law practices. The firm has one of the most experienced groups of attorneys in Central and Southern Illinois dedicated to serving public schools. We regularly represent nearly 150 public school districts, including many districts in Central and Southern Illinois. Our Firm is also regularly appointed by insurers of educational institutions to represent districts in complex or difficult cases involving school or civil rights laws.