7. Questions You Should Ask Before Firing an Employee

Presented by Brent Siler, Partner, Adams & Reese, LLP, Memphis, TN
One of the most common challenges for Human Resources professionals is advising your internal clients when they want to terminate an employee. How do you determine what the risk is? How do you know when to tell them no or tell them they need to get more documentation? How do you know when to give them the green light?

In this presentation, I will cover what employment counsel will ask you if you ask, “Can I fire this employee?” I will explain why I ask each question and what potential legal issue each one is designed to uncover, including the most common employment law risks and how to know if those risks are present in your situation. I will discuss how to use the information you receive, when to ask more questions, and how to know when to say no. I will cover the basics of disciplinary documentation and how to guide your managers to making good decisions to minimize the risk. We will discuss the role of Human Resources as the advisor and how to work with your managers to get them to make the right decisions. The goal of this presentation is to give you a system to use every time you have to consider a termination or significant disciplinary matter to help you make defensible decisions.​

8. Hot Topics in School Law 

Presented by John Hooks, Partner & Education Team Leader and Elizabeth Maron, Partner & Co-Chair of ARROW, Adams & Reese, LLP, Memphis, TN

Updates to the federal legal framework of employment… From Title VI, VII, and IX to FMLA and ADA. This session will provide the latest insights on compliance, policy changes, and how these updates impact school HR practices.

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9. Got Candidates in Low Places? Improve Recruitment, Retention, and Onboarding Culture by Starting at the Bottom.

Presented by Jamie West, Instructional Recruitment Partner, Lake County Schools, Tavares, FL
As Garth taught us all so well, friends in low places can be the secret to success that you never knew was possible. Let’s use that mindset to help grow our recruiting strategy with a focus on overall retention after an awesome onboarding experience. With this workshop, y’all will interact with districts across the nation who are in the same boat. If past practice is pulling you down and new ideas are too tough to implement, let’s work as a team to bring light to the low places in our processes. We will discover new ideas to ease the onboarding process and make it fun for candidates. We will discuss the retention-focused recruitment strategies that can be highly effective and time-efficient for your HR teams.

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10. A Whole New World: Navigating the Civil Rights Landscape in K-12

Presented by Jackie Gharapour Wernz, Legal Consultant, ECR Solutions LLC, and Holly McIntush, Partner, Partner, Thompson & Horton, LLP, Dallas, TX

The civil rights landscape is shifting, and K—12 administrators are on the front lines. In this extended pre-conference session, we’ll explore the evolving legal standards, federal enforcement priorities, and compliance expectations under Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and Section 504/the ADA as they relate to school personnel. Participants will explore recent case law, updated regulations, and executive actions that are reshaping how schools should approach hiring, workplace conduct, investigations, and employee protections.

Through case studies, interactive discussion, and expert insights, this session will equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate today’s civil rights environment with clarity and confidence. Whether you're managing employee complaints, completing investigations, decisions, or appeals, or advising school leaders, this session will provide the tools to meet your obligations and support sound decision-making in a complex regulatory climate.

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11. Total Rewards Remix: Designing Talent-Centered Strategies That Resonate 

Presented by Emily Douglas-McNab, Co-Founder & Chief and Dr. Kate Heynoski, Co-Founder & Chief, Experience Management Institute, Delaware, OH

Step to the rhythm of today’s talent expectations! This high-energy session helps school HC leaders explore Total Rewards as a key driver of employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Grounded in research and aligned with HCLE standards, you'll explore AI hacks and walk away with practical tools and fresh ideas to revamp your approach to compensation, benefits, work-life integration, and career growth. Expect a mix of strategic thinking and actionable takeaways you can tune into right away.

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12. Strategic School Staffing: Best Practices for Large and Small Districts

Presented by Michele Thomas, HR Supervisor, Cobb County Schools and DeMarcos Holland, CHRO, Marietta City Schools,

Marietta, GA

In today’s evolving educational landscape, effective staffing is critical to student success. This session explores strategic staffing best practices tailored to the unique needs of both large and small school districts. Participants will examine data-driven approaches to recruitment, retention, and resource allocation; learn how to align staffing decisions with instructional goals; and explore innovative scheduling and staffing models. Real-world case studies will highlight how districts of different sizes navigate common challenges—such as budget constraints, talent shortages, and equitable staffing—while adapting strategies to their scale and community needs. Ideal for district leaders, HR professionals, and school administrators, this session will equip you with practical tools to build a strong, sustainable workforce.

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