Rachel focuses her practice on representing public school districts and has had the privilege of representing or presenting to the majority of North Dakota public school districts over her career. She has vast experience in all areas of education law, including teacher negotiations, contractual and non-contractual employment disputes, nonrenewals and discharges, constitutional violations, open meetings and records requests, investigating employee and student misconduct, discrimination and harassment, policy and handbook review, and student expulsions. Rachel is General Counsel for the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA). She also previously taught School Law as an adjunct graduate professor for the University of Mary and Introduction to School Law for the North Dakota School Business Manager Certification Program.
In addition to education law, Rachel is also experienced in general employment and labor law matters, representing both public and private entities in a wide array of employment-related issues and claims. Rachel also routinely presents on school law and/or employment law to large and small groups.
Rachel is experienced in federal, state and tribal court, in the state administrative hearings process and in defending claims brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor and Human Rights, and Office for Civil Rights (OCR). She also has extensive experience before the North Dakota Education Factfinding Commission. Rachel’s knowledge and experience in the state gained the attention of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), who reached out to Rachel in 2017 and requested she author an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court on behalf of NSBA.
Rachel is a life-long resident of North Dakota and has always remained active in her community. Having grown up in rural North Dakota and now a proud parent of two children attending public school, Rachel understands issues unique to both small and larger school districts and communities. Rachel’s North Dakota public school education has served her well, which drives her career in representing many of the state’s public school districts.
Rachel is currently an active member of several legal organizations and has served on many boards and committees over her career. Most notably, in January 2019, Rachel accepted Governor Burgum’s appointment to sit on the North Dakota Parole Board and continues to appreciate that challenging role and responsibility.
