Email:

Monica.Palestis@centenaryuniversity.edu

Education

  • Montclair State University, summa cum laude
  • Seton Hall University School of Law, cum laude

Area of Greatest Professional Interest

  • School Law / Special Education / Boards of Education

Association Membership

  • New Jersey BAR Association
  • New Jersey School Boards Association

Community Work

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness – Grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for Americans affected by mental health
  • Girl Scouts of America – Troop Leader in Mine Hill and Dover
  • Daughters of Penelope – Greek Orthodox organization dedicated to providing educational support/scholarships to young women
  • Philoptochos Association – Greek Orthodox philanthropic organization
  • Volunteer – Dover Soup Kitchen

Publications

  • Freedom of Expression vs Establishment of Religion – School Leader
  • Avoiding Costly Litigation in Special Education Matters – School Leader
  • When is an Interim Really an Employee? – School Leader
  • Impact of Paid Sick Leave Act on Public Employees – EDlaw Alert
  • Confidentiality and the Law – EDlaw Alert
  • Doctrine of Necessity – EDlaw Alert
  • PERC and the Setting of School Calendars – EDlaw Alert
  • Sickleave Banks – EDlaw Alert
  • Affirmative Action – EDlaw Alert
  • Involuntary Transfers and Assignments – EDlaw Alert
  • Charitable Immunity and Public Schools – EDlaw Alert
  • “Pass the Trash” Law – EDlaw Alert
  • Constitutional Rights in Public Schools – EDlaw Alert
  • Title 34 and Reasonable Accommodations Under Section 504 – EDlaw Alert
  • Video-Streaming Public Meetings – EDlaw Alert

Workshops Conducted

  • Advanced Boardsmanship
  • Hot Topics in Special Education Law
  • Inclusion – Federal Mandate and Legal Reality
  • FAPE – IDEA Building Block
  • Complex FAPE Issues
  • Transition Services
  • Legal Issues and the Transgender Student
  • Conducting an Affirmative Action Investigation
  • Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying in Public Schools
  • Student and Employee Confidentiality
  • Co-Teaching Models
  • Dealing with Difficult People

Major Awards

  • New Jersey Super Lawyer – Education Law
  • New Jersey Senate Resolution for dedication to public education
  • New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education Best Practices Award
  • New Jersey Department of Education Best Practice Awards (3) for Early Childhood Education; Social Problem Solving and Decision Making; Mathematics
  • New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council Exemplary Practice Award (2)
  • Proclamation by the Governor – honored for work in field of mathematics
  • United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Award, Board President, Canfield Avenue School
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