Bringing a passion for education and equity to her practice, Stephanie Jones puts her focus on school children, guiding clients in special education issues and matters involving student behavior, Title IX, the First Amendment, investigations, mediations, due process and other topics.

With more than two decades of experience as a general school attorney, Stephanie’s broad and deep knowledge spans all areas of school law, including labor and employment, litigation, business workings, and board governance. As former general counsel for the Illinois State Board of Education, she has unparalleled familiarity with the inner workings of the ISBE and an extensive understanding of what it takes to run a large governmental organization.

Stephanie’s family background has played a major role in shaping her success as a leader in school law. Her mother was a teacher, an elementary school principal and a role model who taught her to value learning, fairness and justice and inspired her to pursue the practice of law. Stephanie also draws on the perspective she is gaining on her journey as the parent of an autistic son and applies these insights to better help school districts navigate cases, diffuse conflicts, and resolve issues in the best interests of the children involved.

Stephanie infuses a strong sense of both creativity and pragmatism into everything she takes on, providing innovative advice and guidance that work well for clients both within the legal framework and in real-world scenarios. She enjoys the teaching element inherent in her role and puts her skills to use in educating her clients on their legal responsibilities, in conducting professional development and best practices training, and in making presentations and speeches. She is a sought after presenter on the state and national level, recognized for her engaging style and practical advice.