New Britain, PA – Attorneys from Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams recently presented the concluding session of the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Association of Pupil Service Administrators (PAPSA), a tradition that has become a high point of the gathering. The conference took place in April at the Inn at Leola Village in Leola, Pa.
In this full-day session, the “Paul Stevens Memorial Legal Seminar,” named for one of the founding partners of the law firm, attorneys Mark Cheramie Walz, Sharon W. Montanye, Thomas C.Warner, and Jane M. Williams shared information on recent court decisions that affect special education and pupil services legal issues.
Mark Cheramie Walz has extensive courtroom experience and specialized in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and computer crimes cases. He helps districts to reduce liability while harnessing the benefits of new technology. Sharon Montanye is an advocate in special education litigation, with experience working in the field of education as an administrator, certified teacher, grant writer and peer reviewer. Tom Warner represents Pennsylvania school districts in matters of special education and provides in-service training in defensible special education programming and confidentiality/disclosure issues. One of the most experienced attorneys in special education, Jane Williams provides both proactive and defense representation to school entities. She has served as a hearing officer and advisor to school boards in student expulsion matters.
PAPSA is the only organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania specifically devoted to issues concerning pupil services programs in schools. Members of the organization have supervisory or administrative responsibility in fields such as counseling, health, psychology, home and school visitation, social work, special education, gifted education and student assistance. For more information, visit papsa-web.org.
Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP was formed in 1995 by nine experienced education lawyers who created the first private law practice in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to Education Law. Since then, the firm has grown to 16 attorneys who represent over 290 school and municipal entities as Solicitors or as Special Counsel in more than 50 counties throughout Pennsylvania.