CYNTHIA S. BUECHLER is a partner in the Austin, Texas law firm of Buechler & Associates, P.C.  Following law school, Ms. Buechler served as a briefing attorney for the Third Judicial District Court of Appeals and as a Hearings Examiner and Assistant General Counsel for the Texas Education Agency.  Since leaving TEA in 1987, Ms. Buechler has practiced exclusively in school law and is a frequent speaker at in-service programs and law seminars at the state and national level. In 1989, Ms. Buechler became board certified in administrative law.  She also serves as the director of the National Educators Law Institute.

WILLIAM M. BUECHLER is the managing partner at the firm of Buechler & Associates, P.C. in Austin, Texas.  His practice emphasizes discipline, special education, Section 504, ADA, civil rights and employment and administrative law issues.  Mr. Buechler is a frequent speaker at in-service programs and education law seminars and conferences at the state and national level.  He also serves as managing director of the National Educators Law Institute.

MILES T. BRADSHAW has worked in the area of school law since 1993. From 1995-2001, Mr. Bradshaw served as an Assistant and Senior Assistant General Counsel with the Houston Independent School District representing the district on all types of school law issues. In 2001, Mr. Bradshaw served as General Counsel for the Houston Community College System.  He currently is with the law firm of Feldman & Rogers, L.L.P. in Houston, Texas.

STACY FERGUSON is an attorney with the San Antonio firm of Escamilla & Poneck, Inc., and has been practicing law since 1990. Ms. Ferguson is a frequent speaker on school issues with an emphasis on disability issues.  She is licensed to practice in the federal courts for the Western District of Texas. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of student discipline, special education and disabilities law.

HANS P. GRAFF has worked in private practice where he concentrated in federal and state litigation as well as representation of school districts in special education matters.  He has been employed with the Houston Independent School District since April 1995, representing the District in special education matters.  Additionally, he annually revises the Code of Student Conduct and provides advice on student discipline, juvenile justice and alternative education concerns.

JEFFREY L. ROGERS worked as both an associate and partner with Reynolds, White, Allen & Cook.  In 1988 he joined the firm of Brown, Parker & Leahy, L.L.P. and in 1996, he joined David M. Feldman in partnership to create the Houston, Texas firm of Feldman and Rogers, L.L.P.  Mr. Rogers’ practice includes commercial and civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels; and school law and employment law in both state and federal courts, including civil rights, constitutional law, student discipline, employment discrimination, special education and appeals to the Texas Education Agency.

YLISE JANSSEN has worked in the field of school law since 1993, working seven years for Corpus Christi ISD as staff attorney and seven years for Austin Independent School District as senior school law attorney.  Ms. Janssen’s practice concentrates heavily in the areas of special education, student discipline, open government/records, and labor and employment.

DENISE NANCE PIERCE is an attorney in the Austin law firm of Bickerstaff, Heath, Smiley, Pollan, Kever & McDaniel, L.L.P.  Ms. Pierce represents school districts and junior colleges on all matters of education law including employment, educator contracts, student rights, student discipline, open government, sexual harassment, school construction, and civil litigation.

CINDY PRICE is a principal with the Barbers Hill Independent School District in Barbers Hill, Texas and a practicing school law attorney with the law firm of Fielder & Gunter.  Ms. Price is experienced in all aspects of school law including special education and Section 504 issues.  She brings a unique and practical perspective to the special education process.

HOLLY BOYD WARDELL is a shareholder in the firm of Schwartz & Eichelbaum, P.C. in Austin, Texas.  Ms. Wardell’s practice focuses on whistleblower and civil rights cases including gender, race, national origin, and disability discrimination claims.  She is a frequent guest speaker for school districts and has published numerous articles for state and firm publications on special education and other issues.