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 LEAs or the general public, and they will not provide legal advice or services to LEAs or the general public.

Any communication between an OGC attorney in his or her official capacity and a member of the general public or an LEA 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 in 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. LEAs and the general public should always contact their own attorneys for specific legal advice.

Office of General Counsel staff may be reached at (615) 741-2921 or TDOE.GeneralCounsel@tn.gov.

• General Counsel: Christy Ballard
• General Legal Inquiries: TDOE.GeneralCounsel@tn.gov
• Executive Administrative Assistant: Kim Pomeroy
• Paralegal: MeiLei Radabaugh
• Director of Operations and Logistics: Leigh-Anne Zanella
• Deputy General Counsel: Taylor Jenkins
• Associate Counsel for School Choice: Marlee Lizarraga
• Associate Counsel of Regulatory Compliance: Schuyler Travis

Special Education Inquiries: IDEAdisputeresolution@tn.gov

• Associate Counsel: Tate Ball
• Assistant Counsel: Emily Adams
• Senior IDEA Complaints Investigator: Tricia Craig
• IDEA Complains Investigator: Dana Johnson
• IDEA Complaints Investigator: Robert Taylor
• Senior Associate Counsel, Operations: Keith Minor
• Director of LEA Approval: LaQuisha Oliver
• Assistant Counsel: Mia Lazarini
• Assistant Counsel: Savannah Reynolds
• Assistant Counsel: Melissa Bergmann
• Senior Associate Counsel, Civil Rights & Academic Supports: Shaundraya Hersey

Civil Rights Inquiries: TDOE.CivilRights@tn.gov

• Assistant Counsel: Courtney Boykin
• Assistant Counsel: Josselyne Blackard
• Senior Associate Counsel, State Schools: David Oldham

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