Wendy Tucker, a Partner in Procopio's Labor & Employment Practice, focuses her practice on advising charter schools on all aspects of the employment relationship, serving as a trusted legal and strategic advisor to school leaders and governing boards. Wendy provides comprehensive counsel on employment agreements, handbooks and workplace policies, performance management, discipline and termination, leaves of absence and disability accommodations, wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, and labor relations matters. Drawing on extensive experience in the education sector, she delivers practical, proactive guidance that helps charter schools navigate complex employment issues, minimize risk, and support their educational missions.
From harassment and discrimination complaints to misconduct and policy violations, workplace investi…From harassment and discrimination complaints to misconduct and policy violations, workplace investigations require a careful balance of legal compliance, objectivity, and practical judgment. For charter schools, there can also be unique issues when a board is involved, and a poorly-conducted investigation can create significant legal and organizational risk.
This session explores the essential elements of a legally sound workplace investigation, including how to determine when an investigation is required, when and how the board needs to be involved, how to select the right investigator (internal or external), how to define the scope of the investigation, confidentiality, how to document the investigation and the findings, and how to communicate outcomes while minimizing legal risk.
Special education and employment issues can overlap in ways that create significant challenges for s…Special education and employment issues can overlap in ways that create significant challenges for school leaders. This presentation explores the relationship between student needs, employee performance, and legal compliance. Participants will learn how student behaviors can affect employee working conditions, safety concerns, leave requests, and burnout. The session will also examine how employee misconduct, poor performance, inadequate supervision, and failure to implement IEPs can negatively impact students and expose schools to legal risk.
The presenters will share real-world examples to discuss how schools can handle both the student side and the employee side. The presentation will provide best practices on balancing special education obligations with employment law requirements to improve student outcomes, reduce employee burnout and turnover, and create a healthier, more effective school environment.
Participants are encouraged to consider:
- What do you do when a Gen. Ed. teacher refuses to support behavior interventions?
- What do you do when a student repeatedly engages in inappropriate or dangerous physical conduct with an aide?
Participants should come prepared to discuss the toughest scenarios - and walk away empowered with actionable guidance.
Governance breakdowns rarely start with bad intentions, they start with blurry lines. This practical…Governance breakdowns rarely start with bad intentions, they start with blurry lines. This practical, legally grounded session clarifies the distinct roles and responsibilities of charter school boards and staff and explains why getting this right matters. The presenters will identify the most common governance pitfalls — role confusion, overreach in both directions, lack of trust between board and management, unhealthy alliances, and uncertainty about what decisions require board approval versus what management can and should handle. The presenters (experienced charter school governance and labor and employment attorneys) will offer concrete strategies for maintaining appropriate oversight while preserving administrative autonomy.
