You asked, and we listened. NCAIS has put together a series of webinars over the course of the 2018-2019 school year to address some of the hot topics on your minds and in the news. Gone are the days of approaching a problem when it arises. In today's climate, we need to anticipate potential risks to the school community and head them off at the pass. Policies need to be well written, up-to-date, compliant with current legislation, and implemented when an issue does come up. 
Register for the Risk Management webinar series and either join each one live or access the recording after the fact. Watch with your risk management team. Share the tips with key stakeholders. Sleep better at night knowing that you have heard the latest legal issues around these topics.

Initial Webinar:
Rise Above the Uncertainty | October 11, 2018 | Alex Miller and Liza Kabanova

In this era of growing uncertainty, independent school leaders see the value of proactively managing risk, yet they often struggle to do so. To address this challenge, United Educators (UE) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) initiated a year-long project to assess the state of risk management in independent schools and to provide insight to the industry as a whole. Join us for this discussion, which will include recommendations for ensuring your school’s ongoing success. Risk management is essential to thriving in this changing and challenging environment, and with the right approach, every independent school can do it.

Additional Topics Include:
Accommodating Employees: ADA and FMLA | November 8, 2018 | Elizabeth Troutman

From parental leave to serious medical conditions, what are the rights and obligations of your school and your staff when it comes to leave time? And how do you go about managing and accommodating employees with disabilities? We’ll cover both the Family and Medical Leave Act and, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other state laws as they relate to school employees, and provide some tips for the practicalities of these laws on school campuses.

Sexual Misconduct Allegations | December 6, 2018 | Pete Upham

In the summer of 2016, NAIS and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) partnered to form the Independent School Task Force on Educator Sexual Misconduct. The goal of the Task Force was to take a 360-degree look at educator sexual misconduct in independent schools and develop a set of recommendations to help schools best prevent educator sexual misconduct and respond justly, compassionately, and effectively to cases of educator sexual misconduct, past and present. Addressing educator sexual misconduct can be difficult, but it is a vital step for all schools. Improving policies and discussing challenges more openly will help protect children and ensure that our schools continue to provide all the benefits of an independent school education long into the future. Please join Pete Upham, Executive Director of TABS as he walks us through the lessons learned and offers NCAIS schools food for thought and best practices.

Background Checks: Best Practices | January 10, 2019 | Jon Yarbrough

Background checks aren't just a one-and-done when hiring new staff and not all background checks are the same. Join us to find out what the law currently allows, both at the state level and national, and to find out best practices in scope and frequency. Jon Yarbrough, attorney, will share his expertise with participants as well as answer your questions. 

Creating a Positive School Environment for Students and Staff:
A Legal Perspective on Preventing and Addressing Harassment at School | February 21, 2019 | Elizabeth Troutman

This session will cover issues of harassment in school, for both students and staff. We will focus the conversation on defining harassment and its various forms, effective prevention techniques, and how to conduct a thorough investigation. 

 *All webinars begin at 10am and will last one hour. Participants may choose to join the event live or to view the recording at a later date.

 Registration
Cost: $200/series or $50/each
Target Audience: Business Officers, Heads of School, Risk Management Team Members, Human Resource Directors
Speakers Include:
Alex Miller, Associate Vice President of Research & Program Development at United Educators
At United Educators (UE), Alex Miller oversees the development of resources and learning programs to help schools, colleges, and universities prevent claims and manage risk. In 2017, he co-authored the report Rise Above Uncertainty, published by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), to help advance the state of risk management at independent schools. Miller recently oversaw the development of UE’s data security learning program. He began his career as a litigator defending employers in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation matters. Miller holds a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University and a J.D. cum laude from the University of San Francisco School of Law, with a certificate in Intellectual Property and Cyber Law.
Liza Kabanova, Risk Management Consultant with United Educators
Liza helps United Educator (UE) member institutions understand and apply our resources.  She currently leads an initiative to transform one of UE’s biggest service programs touching over 700 institutions focused on advancing campus risk management.  Prior to UE, Liza spent several years in the Office of Insurance and Risk at Pepperdine University, where she founded the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, established campus-wide safety initiatives, developed the school’s first learning management system (LMS), and managed and developed several cross-departmental and supervisor training programs.  She also served as the University’s Threat Assessment Team (TAT) archivist, working with senior administration on urgent threats involving Human Resources, Student Affairs, Title IX, cybersecurity, active shooter, and other departments and topics.  She started her career as a lawyer in civil litigation in Philadelphia, and clerked at the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, CA.  Liza has a JD from Pepperdine University and graduated magna cum laude with a BA from Bucknell University.
Pete Upham, Executive Director of TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools)
Pete has been Executive Director of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) since 2007. Pete spent thirteen years in boarding school administration and teaching, the last six as Assistant Head of School at Asheville School in North Carolina.  Before his appointment at TABS, Pete was the owner and principal of CWJ Consulting, a firm assisting schools, educational organizations, and non-profits in the areas of strategy, advancement, and planning. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at education conferences, board meetings, and school ceremonies. Peter has also held several Board positions and is a graduate of Hotchkiss School. He did his undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar and National Merit Scholar, and earned his M.S.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth Troutman, Attorney at Brooks Pierce, Greensboro NC

Elizabeth advises public school boards of education, private educational institutions, and colleges and universities on a wide range of education issues, and advocates for educational institutions in administrative proceedings, state and federal courts, and before local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. Her experience includes developing policies and procedures for schools, handling investigations by the Office of Civil Rights, student discipline and employment matters, advising on federal and state legislative strategies, addressing a myriad of compliance-related issues, and defending educational institutions in state and federal courts.

With prior experience working with the North Carolina School Boards Association, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Council for Children’s Rights in Charlotte, and the Education Innovations Group, as well as conducting extensive research on rural education policy issues, Elizabeth brings a valuable perspective to Brooks Pierce and her education clients. Elizabeth serves on the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Council of School Attorneys and is a frequent speaker at education law conferences.

Jon Yarbrough, Attorney at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, Asheville NC

Jon’s practice includes providing advice and counsel to employers on compliance with federal and state employment laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and wage and hour laws. He also assists federal contractors with affirmative action planning and compliance.

Jon has successfully represented employers in a wide variety of employment related lawsuits and charges brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, and the United States and North Carolina Departments of Labor, and before state and federal courts in North Carolina and Tennessee. He has also successfully defended whistleblower charges before OSHA and before Administrative Law Judges of the United States Department of Labor. 
 

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