AASA Announces New Committee to Enhance Advocacy Work with Federal Agencies and Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
 
Contact:  
James Minichello  
703-774-6953  
jminichello@aasa.org 

Alexandria, Va. – January 18, 2024 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the organization that serves as the premier voice on Capitol Hill on behalf of school system leadership, is pleased to unveil the School District Attorney Committee (SDAC) an initiative created to enhance its work to shape federal education policy and provide additional legal resources for superintendents and their teams. 

The SDAC, comprised of premier school district attorneys who specialize in a variety of areas of legal expertise and are located across the country, will operate as an advisory committee on behalf of AASA’s advocacy and policy team.

“It is an honor to work with such an exceptional group of attorneys and law firms for this exciting opportunity,” said Jackie Gharapour Wernz, SDAC chair and partner at Thompson & Horton, LLP.  “AASA is the leading voice in advocacy for school district leadership at the federal level, making this partnership with the attorneys AASA members turn to for legal advice in the K-12 space a natural fit. I am confident that the SDAC will only help to increase the already significant impact and resources that AASA provides its members.”

“AASA is the leading voice in advocacy for school district leadership at the federal level, making this partnership with the attorneys AASA members turn to for legal advice in the K-12 space a natural fit.”

Members of the committee have routinely demonstrated invaluable insight into how federal policy and laws intersect with school district operations and have excellent reputations at the appellate level.

“The outstanding professionals who are part of AASA’s School District Attorney Committee are all game changers from the legal field and their help will be nothing short of immeasurable as we move into the new year,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “AASA’s policy and advocacy team seemingly works on a 24/7, breakneck pace to serve the thousands of men and women who are leading our school districts. This initiative will add considerable value to that work while helping to ensure that the voice of our nation’s public school superintendents continues to inform federal policy decisions.” 

“The outstanding professionals who are part of AASA’s School District Attorney Committee are all game changers from the legal field and their help will be nothing short of immeasurable as we move into the new year.”

Members of the committee include:

• Séamus Boyce, Kroger, Gardis & Regas, LLP (Indiana)
• Darcy L. Kriha, Kriha Boucek, LLC (Illinois)
• Hieu M. Nguyen, Pereira, Kirby, Kinsinger & Nguyen, LLP (Georgia)
• W. Joseph Scholler, Frost Brown Todd, LLP (Ohio)
• Julie M. Shaw, Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert, LLP (New York)
• Marc L. Terry, Mirick O'Connell (Massachusetts)
• Jim Walsh, Walsh Gallegos Treviño Kyle & Robinson P.C. (Texas)
• Jackie Gharapour Wernz, Thompson & Horton, LLP (Texas)

For specific questions, please contact Sasha Pudelski, AASA director of advocacy, at spudelski@aasa.org.

### 

About AASA 
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.