Laura E. Hemmer
Merry Rhoades
Robert L. JackstadtBeginning September 19, 2017 Teach Illinois will release a series of webinars featuring six Tueth Keeney attorneys unpacking and working through the landmark school funding reform bill that became law in Illinois on August 31, 2017. This new law, SB 1947, not only reforms the school funding formula, but it also revises many provisions in the school code. Tueth Keeney attorneys are taking the law piece-by-piece to explain the significant changes to school administrators, board members, and others interested in what this touted-legislation will really mean for school districts.
Teach Illinois is a Regional Office of Education collaborative offering in depth information for educators and administrators. The first installment of this webinar series will be released on September 19th. Anyone may register for the free webinar series by creating an account at TeachIllinois.com and registering for the course, “Unpacking SB 1947.” Participants may listen to the recorded webinars and pause/continue at their convenience. Questions may be submitted to the Teach Illinois forum, and a follow-up, live panel discussion will be broadcast on November 6 to wrap up the series.
Illinois Education – 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.
Robert L. Jackstadt practices in the areas of commercial, construction and education litigation. Rob has tried to a conclusion numerous jury and bench trials in federal and state courts located in Illinois and Missouri. Rob has tried and/or handled hundreds of different civil litigation matters involving a wide variety of complex matters including construction defects, employment contracts, retaliatory discharge, railcar leases, letters of credit, minority shareholder claims, unfair labor practices, condemnation, products liability, non-competition agreements, mechanic’s liens, tax increment financing districts, and securities.
Rob also has extensive experience negotiating construction contracts and providing advice to public entities on public construction projects. He has been selected by his peers as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in the area of Construction Law. Rob has also received an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell in both St. Louis and Edwardsville, the highest rating available.
Rob is a founding Shareholder of the Firm. Prior to co-founding this Firm, Rob was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin (now Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP) for eight years. In addition to his private practice, Rob serves as the Mayor of Glen Carbon, Illinois ““ a part time position.
Rob serves on the Firm’s three-person Management Committee.
Merry Rhoades has more than 20 years of experience representing Illinois public education institutions. Because of her 20-plus years of experience, she has key insights regarding the day-to-day operation of a school district that includes compliant with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the Freedom of Information Act and other laws governing board of education operation. She is an active member of several school related organizations and serves as a member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys Executive Committee and also the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) PRESS advisory committee.
D. Shane Jones practices in the areas of labor & employment law, education law, and higher education in Missouri and Illinois. Shane routinely advises and represents employers in all aspects of employment labor law, including wage and hour matters, the design and review of employee handbooks, drafting and enforcing no compete agreements, and investigating, disciplining and terminating employees. He has also successfully defended employers against discrimination claims, First Amendment claims, Due Process claims, and other Labor and Employment actions in state and federal courts.
Laura E. Hemmer practices primarily in the areas of education law and labor and employment. She represents public entities with respect to employment and termination matters, special education issues, student discipline and student rights, civil rights and church/state issues. She has also represented private and public employers through all stages of litigation and appeal in state and federal courts. During law school, Laura served as a legal intern with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.
Kameron W. Murphy joined Tueth Keeney in June 2013 and is a member of the firm’s Education Law and Labor & Employment practice areas. Kameron previously practiced in commercial litigation for a well-respected mid-sized St. Louis firm and has extensive experiences in all phases of litigation in Illinois and Missouri state and federal courts. While in law school, Kameron was a student law clerk to then-Chief Justice Ronnie L. White of the Missouri Supreme Court. Prior to beginning his legal career, Kameron was a newspaper reporter covering public safety for the Burlington (Iowa) Hawk Eye and municipal government and education for the Kansas City Star.
Chad Watkins practices primarily in Illinois education law. Prior to joining the firm, Chad taught high school in Washington, D.C. and received his master’s degree in special education.