Celynda L. BrasherTueth Keeney School law attorneys are often in demand for their expertise in school law and employment matters. Firm Shareholders Celynda Brasher and Shane Jones were featured presenters at the Missouri School Boards”™ Association (“MSBA”)’s annual conference held at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, October 26-28, 2007.
Celynda’s presentation, entitled “Negotiating Superintendents Contracts”, focuses on a School District’s contractual arrangement with its chief executive officer and most important employee. Shane’s presentation, entitled “Employee Contracts”, addresses employment contracts with principals and other administrators, teachers, extra-duty contracts with staff, and with non-certified and support personnel. Both sessions addressed which legal elements are required, which are optional, and what elements should (and should not) should be included in these contracts to best protect the School District.
The Missouri School Boards’ Association (“MSBA”) represents the leadership teams of school districts who are charged with shaping the educational programs of the public school students of Missouri. The MSBA’s mission is “Advancing Excellence in Public Education Through School Board Leadership.” MSBA’s annual fall conference, held each October at the Lake of the Ozarks, is one of the largest gatherings of education decision makers in Missouri. The conference features nationally recognized speakers, workshops on a variety of topics, as well as an outstanding trade show. Board members and superintendents are encouraged to attend this comprehensive conference to stay abreast of current and new concepts for public education. For more information on MSBA, please visit their website www.msbanet.org.
Celynda L. Brasher practices in the areas of school law, school litigation, and labor and employment law. Celynda represents many school districts throughout Missouri. She regularly advises boards of education and administrators on matters involving education, including employment and termination, students, special education, civil rights, contracts, Open Meetings Act, church/state issues, Hancock Amendment challenges, and an assortment of constitutional provisions.
Celynda also represents other public and private employers in a variety of employment law areas including discrimination defense, union organization, unemployment compensation, wage/hour compliance, and terminations. Celynda has extensive litigation experience in federal and state courts and before federal and state administrative agencies. Celynda is a prolific speaker and author on school law topics. She is a columnist for the Missouri Association of School Nurses and co-author of the Missouri Bar School Law Deskbook, the primary treatise on school law for Missouri’s lawyers. Celynda is a former tenured teacher and a registered nurse. She is a founding Shareholder of the Firm.
Shane Jones practices in the areas of labor and employment law, education law, and litigation. He routinely advises and represents employers in wage and hour matters, in the design and review of employee handbooks, and disciplining and terminating employees. Shane has also successfully defended employers against discrimination claims, First Amendment claims, Due Process claims, and other constitutional issues, in both state and federal courts. Shane is a co-author of the Employment Law section of the Missouri Bar School Law Desk Book, the principal treatise on school law for Missouri’s lawyers.
Shane is also experienced in crafting proposals and counter-proposals for negotiations, and in effectively presenting the employer’s position at the collective bargaining table. He has directly negotiated, or participated significantly behind the scenes, in the negotiation of dozens of collective bargaining agreements and contracts under Federal and State labor laws. Shane has been a Tueth Keeney shareholder since January, 2003.
Tueth Keeney maintains one of the largest education practice in Missouri, advising and representing public school districts in all parts of the state. The Firm also defends school-related lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout Missouri on behalf of MUSIC and several other educational insurers.
Tueth Keeney also successfully represents a number of businesses, large and small, throughout the Midwest in labor and employment matters. Our broad range of experience includes employment discrimination litigation, wage-hour investigations, affirmative action plans, INS audits, and a variety of traditional labor matters.
Over the last few years, the Firm has successfully defended over 100 discrimination and other employment litigation matters. The Firm has regularly obtained summary judgment in nearly every category of employment litigation. Our attorneys have also defended many cases in trials and appeals in federal and state courts throughout the Midwest.