A growing number of accidents, sexual assaults, beatings, and even fatal shootings in schools  across the country highlight the fact that our educational institutions are more vurnerable to lawsuits than ever before. When legal battles result, cases can often turn on the testimony of an education expert.

 

The education expert brings the expertise of having worked in an education enviroment, an understanding of the culture of schools, the culture of educational systems and an understanding of how those systems work. The expert also understands the complexities of implementing regulations, disciplinary plans and supervisory plans for students.

 

Ultimately if a case does go to trial, the role of the education expert is to educate the jury or judge in terms of that education culture and to provide an opinion as to whether a teacher or administrator acted reasonably or prudently under the circumstances. If there is no expert, the risk is that you might miss key information that could be obtained through discovery.

 

An attorney should look for an expert with hands-on experience, perferably as both a teacher and an administrator. Someone who has supervised other teachers and has a doctoral degree in educational administration, which provides training in a wide range of educational management issues.