High Plains Regional Education Cooperative

2019 SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW CONFERENCE

September 24 - 25, 2019 - Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel

2019 Presenters: Walsh Gallegos Law Firm

Featuring: Elena M Gallegos & Lorie Gerkey

With Special Guest: The Honorable Robert H Pasternack, PHD

Participants will receive the most current information regarding IDEA 2004, Section 504, eligibil-

ity, behavior, issues related to case law, practical compliance strategies, and trends in litigation.

(Final topics and schedule are forthcoming.)

Register at www.hprec.com—see back cover for more info.

Continental Breakfast &

Lunch Provided

——————

Giveaways:

2 iPads &

4 Amazon $100 Gift Cards

High Plains Regional Education Cooperative #3 is pleased to offer our annual Special Education Law

Conference. This highly-regarded professional development opportunity will support your district-wide

and site-based efforts toward improved outcomes for students with disabilities.

For the second year, presenters are attorneys from Walsh Gallegos, a prestigious New Mexico law

firm that serves clients throughout the state. Walsh Gallegos Special Education Lawyers are recognized

on a state and national level for their knowledge and experience serving school districts. Their hands-on

experience, in the school setting, as diagnosticians, counselors, speech and language therapists, and

teachers makes them uniquely suited to understand and meet the challenges of special education. Walsh

Gallegos attorneys are known by their clients to be helpful and down-to-earth. They are adept at interpreting com-

plex legal issues and presenting them in a manner that helps you understand the law and determine next steps.

Joining us this year is The Honorable Robert H Pasternack, PHD, a former State Director of Special

Education for the State of New Mexico. During his distinguished career in our state, Dr. Pasternack was

a teacher, superintendent of schools, director of the state’s first residential treatment center for children

with serious emotional and behavioral problems, and CEO of New Mexico’s first licensed Comprehensive

Children’s Community Mental Health Center. His work in New Mexico included improving outcomes and

results for children with disabilities, implementing full-day kindergarten with mandatory use of scientifi-

cally based reading interventions, training teachers on the signs and symptoms of mental health prob-

lems, building parent-professional partnerships, resiliency in juvenile delinquents, and a number of

innovative efforts to serve ALL students.

SPED Law Conference Overview

Need Assistance with Registration?

575.445.7090

Mary Sciacca (msciacca@hprec.com)

www.hprec.com

Elena M Gallegos has practiced law with Walsh

Gallegos for more than 25 years. A former special education

teacher, her practice emphasizes special education litigation

and student issues.

In addition to practicing law, Elena served as a Program Spe-

cialist with the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center

(MPRRC) from 2000 to 2005. This resource was funded by the

United States Department of Education, Office of Special Edu-

cation Programs (OSEP) to provide technical assistance to

state departments of education in ten states, including New

Mexico and the Bureau of Indian Education.

Having lived and worked in Austin for many years, Elena returned to her New Mexico roots to open the

firm’s New Mexico office. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Education Law Association

(formerly the National Organization on Legal Problems of Education), and is a nationally-known speaker on

issues of school law.

The Honorable Robert H Pasternack, PHD, is a

nationally certified school psychologist, certified educational diagnos-

tician, certified school administrator, and certified teacher. He is the

recipient of numerous awards and a frequent presenter at local, state,

regional, national, and international conferences.

Dr. Pasternack served as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special

Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the US Department

of Education from 2001 to 2004. During his tenure, he was responsible

for the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education

Act (IDEA) and the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Dr.

Pasternack served on two Presidential Commissions, including the

President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education and the

President’s Mental Health Commission. He also served as the Chair of

the Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee during his appoint-

ment as the Assistant Secretary.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Lorie Gerkey spent 13 years as a special education teacher and 17 years

as a student services administrator. This foundation led

her to pursue a career in special education law. Through-

out her career, she has always put student needs first. She

believes that “All Means All”, no matter the educational

environment. Her 30 years as a public educator and

administrator gives her a unique perspective on the legal

issues facing schools.

Prior to joining Walsh Gallegos, Lorie gained valuable

experience in education law as a law clerk for Udall

Shumway, PLC in Mesa, Arizona.

To register, visit www.hprec.com and follow these easy steps:

1) Click on “Special Education Law Conference” (right hand side of home page).

2) Complete the online registration information; once registered, you will receive a confirmation email in-

dicating that you are registered.

3) Send a signed purchase order, money order, or check to High Plains Regional Education Cooperative

within 10 days of your registration.

• Registrations will be accepted until the conference is full or until September 19, 2019.

• For cancellations after September 9, 2019, the school district/agency will be charged the full registration

fee.

• Refunds prior to September 9, 2019 will include a $20.00 processing fee.

• Substitute registrations will be allowed.

Lodging - Participants are responsible for their own lodging.

A room block is available at the Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel - 505-843-7000

Copy and paste this link into your browser:

https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1556658970405&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Last Day to Book: Monday, September 2, 2019

Registration - Cost $375.00 Per Person

High Plains Regional Education Cooperative

101 North 2nd Street

Raton, NM 87740

575.445.7090 - Fax 575.445.7663