Tueth Keeney is proud of its commitment to advising and educating school administrators on the complex and ever-changing legal issues facing public schools. In this spirit, Tueth Keeney shareholder Merry C. Rhoades recently accepted an invitation from The Southern Illinois Education Alliance to speak at its 2010 Conference:  Closing the Gap: Practical Strategies for All Educators. The day-long conference was held on March 26, 2010 at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois

Merry held a breakout session in the morning titled "RTI - What is it and how do I implement it?" The session provided updates in the rules and regulations in regards to pre-referral intervention, assessments, documentation, and special education eligibility and how that will impact the general education teacher. 

Merry C. Rhoades focuses her practice on general counsel services with an emphasis on special education law and student-related issues, school district reorganization matters and tax and finance matters. Because of her more than 20 years experience in representing Illinois public school districts, she has key insights regarding the day-to-day operation of the school district. She has extensive experience in special education administrative hearings, civil rights litigation, state and federal court litigation at the trial and appellate levels, and state administrative hearings.

Merry is an active member of several school related organizations. She is a member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys Executive Committee and currently serves as its  Chairperson and she is a service member to the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). She serves as an Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) PRESS advisory committee member.  Merry has been asked to speak for such organizations as the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE), the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), the Illinois Principal's Association (IPA) and the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) on numerous school related issues.

Tueth Keeney is proud to be one of the state's largest Illinois education law practices. The firm has one of the most experienced groups of attorneys in Central and Southern Illinois dedicated to serving public schools. We regularly represent nearly 150 public school districts, including many districts in Central and Southern Illinois. Our Firm is also regularly appointed by insurers of educational institutions to represent districts in complex or difficult cases involving school or civil rights laws.