K - 12 Education

Trisha A. Olson Related Seminars and Products

General Counsel

Illinois State Board of Education

Over the past 20 years, Trisha Olson has worked in Chicagoland schools as a paraprofessional, teacher, school board attorney and parent advocate.  While in law school, Trisha was the research assistant for the President of the ACLU, Nadine Strossen, and interned at Mayerson & Associates, New York City’s preeminent parent-advocacy law firm for individuals with autism.  Since law school, Trisha has represented both boards of education and families on a diverse range of topics, including special education, student rights, bargaining, personnel matters and board governance.  She has counseled the Illinois State Board of Education for four years, serving as its chief legal officer since July 2019.

Sylvia Rios Related Seminars and Products

Illinois Education Association, NEA

Sylvia Rios is General Counsel of the Illinois Education Association (IEA). Ms. Rios provides advice and representation to IEA on a variety of labor, employment, and education law matters and oversees its legal department. Before becoming IEA General Counsel, she held the position Associate General Counsel for seven years.  Prior to joining IEA, Ms. Rios served as Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General Office’s Employment Unit defending state agencies and employees in state and federal employment discrimination matters. She also has worked as a Staff Attorney with the Illinois Labor Relations Board and began her legal career as an Associate with the union-side law firm Jacobs, Burns, Orlove and Hernandez.

Mr. Brian D. Schwartz Related Seminars and Products

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Illinois Principals Association

Brian Schwartz is the Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel to the Illinois Principals Association and has practiced law for over 22 years. He is the author of three books: The Law of Homeschooling (2008), Finding Middle Ground in K-12 Education (2009) and Illinois Law in the School Office (2015). He has also written numerous book chapters, law review articles and scholarly publications. Brian previously served on the national board of directors of the Education Law Association and is the past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Education Law Section Council. He is a member of the Illinois and National Council of School Attorneys. Brian has presented nationally on a variety education-related issues.