Summer D. Dalessandro

Highly respected education law attorney Summer Dalessandro advises and defends Southern California public school districts and institutions in a variety of special education and student issues. Drawing on her substantial knowledge base, Summer guides clients in procedures such as administrative hearings, mediations, and litigation, including federal court appeals, as well as in governance and leadership matters. 

A popular and in-demand public speaker, Summer frequently presents at education-related conferences and symposia, where she shares her insights on a broad spectrum of special education topics and on subjects including student discipline, board governance, investigations, the Brown Act, and public records requests. In addition to frequent District-level trainings, she’s conducted presentations at a wide range of organizations, including the California School Boards Association (CSBA), Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), and the California Council of School Attorneys (CCSA).

With her passion, intelligence, and credibility, Summer adeptly advocates for clients while working to find common ground that prevents litigation and engenders solutions acceptable to both sides. She provides training and counsel at the school site and administrative levels to keep clients compliant with their legal obligations, mitigate risk, and stave off complaints and lawsuits. Whether she’s writing an amicus brief, mediating a dispute, litigating a matter in the courtroom, or advising districts on the slew of student behavior-related problems, Summer relishes using her skills to help clients help the kids they serve.

As the daughter of a former teacher and veteran school board member, Summer brings the highest level of commitment to public education and the social contract. She firmly believes that children are at the core of her practice and is gratified to enable public school organizations to provide them with excellent educational opportunities.