Office of General Counsel

The attorneys of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) provide legal advice and support to the Commissioner of Education, Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) personnel, and the State Special Schools. In addition, the OGC speaks at conferences, conventions, and workshops across the state for local education agencies (LEAs) and state education and child-focused organizations. Upon request, the OGC will design and provide specific training to meet an agency’s needs. OGC attorneys do not represent local school districts or the general public, and they will not provide legal advice or services to local school districts or the general public.

Any communication with an OGC attorney in his or her official capacity by a member of the general public or a local school district employee or agent is not privileged and is subject to public release under Tennessee Open Records laws.

Please see the Legal Resources Toolkit for guidance documents. Nothing on the Legal Resources Toolkit is intended to constitute legal advice; instead, all information is for general informational purposes only. Answers to questions depend upon specific facts. Local school districts should always contact their board attorneys for specific legal advice.

Office of General Counsel staff may be reached at (615) 741-2921 or [email protected].

General Counsel: Christy Ballard

General Legal Inquiries: [email protected]

Director of Operations and Logistics: Kristen McKeever

Executive Administrative Assistant: Kim Pomeroy

Paralegal: Leigh-Anne Zanella

Associate Counsel: Marlee Lizarraga

Senior Associate Counsel, State Schools: David Oldham

Deputy General Counsel: Taylor Jenkins

• Special Education Inquiries: [email protected]
• Senior IDEA Complaints Investigator: Tricia Craig
• IDEA Complains Investigator: Dana Johnson
• IDEA Complaints Investigator: Robert Taylor
• Associate Counsel: Tate Ball

Senior Associate Counsel, Operations: Keith Minor

• Director of LEA Approval: LaQuisha Oliver
• Assistant Counsel: Mia Lazarini
• Assistant Counsel: Savannah Reynolds
• Associate Counsel: Schuyler Travis

 Senior Associate Counsel, Civil Rights & Academic Supports: Shaundraya Hersey

• Civil Rights Inquiries: [email protected]
• Assistant Counsel: Courtney Boykin
• Assistant Counsel: Josselyne Blackard
• Assistant Counsel: Nikkie Kiene

To Access Tennessee Laws:

1. Go to the Tennessee Code Unannotated Free Public Access page on Lexis Nexis.
2. Agree to the Terms & Conditions.

At the top of the page in the Search field, enter the code number (i.e., 49-1-101) or search by keyword in Title 49.