2023 Spring Conference SpeakersMonica Caldwell Monica is a School Mental Health Consultant with the Department of Public Instruction. She has been a social worker for thirty-five years, with half of her career in child welfare/mental health positions, and the other half in schools. She is a strong advocate for youth and family-driven practices that encourage us to have greater impact through collaboration at all levels. She is excited about DPI’s updated School Mental Health Framework that guides districts and their partners to provide a comprehensive continuum of supports that will enhance the well-being and resilience of children, families, and educators in the communities where we live, work and play. Hannah L. Chin Hannah Chin is a member of the Government Law Group where she focuses on county and municipal governance and school law. Hannah developed a passion for government and school work during law school. She served as Legal Intern for the Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System where she assisted in mediations and IEP facilitations between schools and families of students with disabilities. She worked as Legal Intern for the Wisconsin Elections Commission where she analyzed election laws involving election issues including candidate nominations, absentee voting and poll site accessibility. She also served as Law Clerk for the City of Madison in the City Attorney’s office. Hannah earned her Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution and served as Student Mediator for Marquette’s Small Claims Mediation Clinic. She served as Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant for Professor Andrea Schneider. Hannah co-authored two reports on women in the Milwaukee legal market. Outside of the office, Hannah serves as the Assistant Varsity Dance Coach for New Berlin West High School and as a Dance Educator for The Academy of Performing Arts in Oak Creek. Mary S. Gerbig Mary Gerbig serves as counsel to numerous school districts throughout Wisconsin on general school law, special education, and labor and employment matters. The primary client base she serves includes school districts, Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA) and other municipal employers. Mary represents and supports public school districts in student services matters, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and related state law. She provides counsel in all areas of special education, throughout identification, evaluation, IEP, mediation and litigation processes. She has successfully represented school districts in hundreds of special education mediations, special education due process requests and hearings, Section 504 mediations and hearings, DPI and OCR investigations, and U.S. federal district court and 7th Circuit Court of Appeals cases. She also provides guidance for navigating complex student services matters, including student discipline, pupil nondiscrimination and open enrollment. Chrissy Hamiel Chrissy Hamiel has dedicated her practice to assisting schools on all aspects of law surrounding education. As the proud daughter of public school educators, Chrissy has always had a passion for education which uniquely enhances her understanding of, and guidance provided to, schools. Chrissy counsels school districts on challenging legal matters involving students, educators, staff, administrators, and school boards, and has been a leader in providing creative and resourceful solutions to the most challenging issues facing schools today. Chrissy regularly works with clients to tackle the challenges that keep them up at night. Chrissy is a trusted and pragmatic resource for all a school district’s needs. She is a proven school lawyer who has spent her career navigating the complex issues to best position school districts to fulfill their vision and mission in educating kids while creating opportunities for client success. Eric P. Hartwig, Ph.D. Eric received his doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a M.S. in School Psychology and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He is experienced and licensed as a Director of Pupil Services, District Administrator and a School Psychologist/Private Practice ® and retired in 2016. Dr. Hartwig is the lead consultant on a Behavioral Health Project with Marshfield Clinic and is the author and principle trainer on the Just-in-Time: Behavioral Health Initiative. He is the creator of the online universal screener for behavioral, emotional and social traits (b.e.s.t.) Dr. Hartwig was named Administrator of Special Services of the Year for 2007-2008 and received the distinguished career award in 2016 by the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS), the distinguished service award in 2017 from the Wisconsin Public Health Association (WPHA) and the distinguished service award for 2018 from the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA). Dr. Hartwig is a well respected and engaging speaker. Mike Hickey Mike is a School Administration Consultant for the Department of Public Instruction. He has been with the department for 10 years and a member of the Special Education Team since 2019. He has spent his career working on monitoring and compliance issues surrounding education. Initially working on federal fiscal monitoring for ESEA programs and now focusing on special education legal compliance issues as an IDEA state complaint investigator. When he isn’t investigating complaints, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their dogs. Mark S. Kapocius Mark Kapocius is a school attorney with more than twenty years of experience working in administrative leadership roles for school districts in Wisconsin. As a Shareholder in the Government Law Group and School Law Section, Mark focuses his practice on school law and advising other public-sector entities on labor and employment matters, governance issues, collective bargaining, public records and open meetings compliance. Mark has extensive experience assisting school districts with special education, pupil records, policy and curriculum, and educator and administrator employment-issues involving recruiting, retention, contracting, discipline and nonrenewal, and compensation and benefits issues. Mark brings a unique and innovative perspective to solutions based on his in-house work as the Director of Human Resources for the School Districts of Greenfield, Whitefish Bay, Germantown and Elmbrook. Since 2012, Mark has served as an impartial hearing officer for school districts, counties and municipalities on matters involving employee grievances. He is also an elected municipal judge for the Village of Greendale, where he presides over appearances and trials for civil ordinance violations. Eric Kestin Mr. Kestin is a School Administration Consultant with the Department of Public Instruction. He focuses on advising districts, families and other stakeholders on compliance and best practices with federal and state law around special education. He previously worked for the Madison Metropolitan School District. as the Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator. Mr. Kestin has over 20 years of mediation, conflict management and training experience. He specializes in helping people communicate in high conflict situations. He has facilitated large group dialogues around complex issues and conducted trainings for individual companies, non-profits, governmental bodies and academic staff in a number of areas including anti-bullying, racial justice, mediation, negotiation and conflict management. Jerry Nicholson Jerry is the Director of Pupil Services in the Unified School District of De Pere. Prior to this he served as a Student Services Director in the Middleton-Cross Plains School District for seven years and Wisconsin Dells School District for four years. He started his career as a middle school teacher of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and spent six years as a high school assistant principal. Jerry has been serving students and their families in Wisconsin for over twenty five years as an educator. He has served as an adjunct professor for Viterbo’s administrative licensure program, providing instruction in diversity, special education law, school law, and politics/public relations. Jerry served on the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) Executive Board from 2015-2022. During that time he served terms as a Legislative Chair, President-Elect, President, and Past-President. Tammy Nicholson Tammy is currently in her 9th year as Director of Pupil Services in the Ashwaubenon School District. She started her career as a special education teacher in the Bowler and Oconto Falls School Districts. Tammy worked as a Program Support Teacher in the Ashwaubenon School District for 17 years prior to becoming the Director. Tammy has been serving student and their families in Wisconsin for over 30 years. She has served as an adjunct professor for Viterbo’s administrative licensure program teaching special education law. Tammy is currently the region 7 representative for the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS). Tess O’Brien-Heinzen Tess O’Brien-Heinzen is a partner and co-chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group and provides legal consultation to school districts, charter schools, private schools, and postsecondary institutions in a broad range of areas including Title IX, board governance, student discipline, special education and disability law, open enrollment, policy development, and unlawful harassment and discrimination. She frequently assists her clients with state complaints under pupil nondiscrimination laws and special education, complaints with the Office for Civil Rights, administrative litigation related to special education and Section 504, and litigation in state and federal court. Tess is also a member of the Litigation and Nonprofit Practice Groups. Kylie M. Owens Kylie Owens’ unique background provides her with a distinct set of knowledge and experience to best serve Wisconsin School Districts and other public entities. Kylie began her career as a public- school teacher in 2011 at Wahlquist Junior High School in Utah, which provides education to over 1,100 students. This school was part of Weber School District, which employs over 1,600 teachers. Kylie’s successful teaching career ended in 2017 after she decided to attend law school to better serve schools and student from a legal perspective. Before joining Attolles Law, s.c., Kylie worked at a predominant insurance defense firm in Milwaukee where she was a litigator in both state and federal forums. She has extensive experience in the litigation process along with great experience in the negotiation process and alternative forms of dispute resolution. Regarding alternative dispute resolution, Kylie received a certificate from Marquette University Law School in that area and is always working towards the goal of resolving legal conflicts outside of the courtroom in ways that benefit her clients. Tim Peerenboom Tim obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Child and Youth Care from The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2002 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in School Psychology from UW Stout in 2003. He later went on to earn a master’s degree in educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University in 2009. Prior to joining the DPI in August 2019, Tim has had the privilege of serving children, families and communities in a wide variety of roles, locations and settings. During his 18 year career, he has served as a School Psychologist, Autism Specialist and Director of Special Education and Pupil Services. He has experience working with children aged 3-21 in a variety of public education service models including traditional public schools, a Project Based Learning charter school and even a Montessori school. He has served in urban, rural and suburban school districts spanning from Portland, OR to Washington, D.C. Now that he has returned home to Wisconsin, Tim enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially his wife and two children. Sherrice Perry Sherrice has seven years of experience representing the second-largest public school district in Wisconsin and a total of 12 years of experience practicing law. While working for the Madison Metropolitan School District (“MMSD”), Sherrice served first as the Coordinator of Progressive Discipline, overseeing, and ensuring adherence to the student disciplinary plan and practices including the expulsion process, then as the Interim Title IX Coordinator, and most recently, as the Associate General Counsel with a focus in special education and Title IX. During her tenure at MMSD, Sherrice represented the district’s interest in mediations, IEP team meetings, manifestation determination reviews, section 504 team meetings, expulsion hearings, and suspension appeal meetings. Sherrice also consulted in the areas of family law, McKinney Vento matters, ADA, and student enrollment matters. Prior to her work with MMSD, Sherrice serviced as a criminal prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, IL. Sherrice is a proud Badger, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School in 2010. Marge Resan Marge Resan is a School Administration Consultant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. She has worked for the department since 2007. Her work focuses on special education legal compliance issues. Marge is the lead consultant for the state IDEA complaint process. Marge was a special education teacher in the Madison Metropolitan School District for several years where she taught many students with disabilities in classroom, community, and vocational settings. She holds a law degree from the University of Wisconsin and has worked as an attorney in the areas of disability and elder law. Eva Shaw Eva Shaw is a special education consultant at the Wisconsin DPI. Her role focuses on work related to social and emotional learning for students with IEPs, autism, emotional behavioral disabilities, functional behavioral assessment, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and alternatives to exclusionary practices. She has worked in the field of special education for over 25 years, and has had the privilege to serve children, families, and schools in several states and in a wide variety of roles. Lisa A. Stein Lisa is a School Mental Health Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. As a member of the Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team at DPI, she provides technical assistance and training in the areas of Social and Emotional Learning with an equity focus and building and improving Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis both from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Lisa has been an educator for 25 years, working as an Instructional Coach in Wisconsin public school districts, and served as a statewide coach for the Wisconsin Center for Resilient Schools. Her core values include community and equity through social justice. She recognizes that everyone, both adults and children, deserves to feel safe and have a place of belonging. Lisa is also a certified Coach of Presence-Based Coaching and teaches Mindful-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Sara Totten Dr. Sara Totten is currently the Director of Student Services for the DeForest Area School District. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership at Edgewood College in Madison studying principal perspectives of disproportionate placement of Black/African American students in special education programs. Sara earned her Master’s degree in School Psychology, studying the prevalence of psychopharmacology use in preschool populations. She has co-authored articles appearing in the Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, International Journal of Special Education, and the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment. She has also blogged for RethinkEd. Sara has served as president for the Wisconsin Council for Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) and as one of the state representatives for the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) national organization. She also serves on the Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance (SAA). In addition to her role as director, Sara has taught a number of courses for Lakeland University’s Master Counseling program. Chad P. Wade Attorney Chad Wade is a shareholder with the law firm Renning, Lewis, & Lacy s.c. Chad has practiced law for fifteen years working primarily with public school districts and Wisconsin municipalities. Chad regularly works with school district clients on governmental issues, employment relations matters, and education law issues, including pupil special education and disability accommodation matters. Chad is also experienced with public records, open meetings, and other issues that concern school district’s responsibilities as governmental bodies. Phyllis Wolfram Phyllis Wolfram is the Executive Director for CASE, the Council of Administrators of Special Education and resides in Springfield, Missouri. She has worked in public education for 37 years. Phyllis’ administrative experience spans 29 years in the field of special education administration at the local level. She has been a local special education director in three different districts ranging in size from a small rural district to the largest urban district in the state of Missouri. In addition, she has experience in the area of gifted education, Section 504, ELL and early childhood. Phyllis served as the President of CASE from July 2018 to March 1, 2020, resigning her position early to assume the role as Executive Director for CASE. She also served as the chair of the CASE Policy and Legislation Committee for three years, chaired the CASE Ad Hoc Committee on IDEA Reauthorization in 2010, and served as a member of the CASE Task Force; Design for the Future, 2005. Phyllis has also served on the Board of Directors for the Council for Exceptional Children and the CEC IDEA Reauthorization Workgroup. In addition to her work at the national level she has served as the MO-CASE President (2006-2008) and the MO CEC President (1998). In 2017, Missouri CASE honored Phyllis with the Distinguished Service Award and in 2018 CASE honored her with the Harrie M. Selznick Distinguished Service Award. |