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