Advocacy Services

The ISEA Advocacy Services Division employs three full-time in-house attorneys who are experts in school law and employment-related issues. They along with our UniServ directors work to protect our members' rights in cases ranging from grievance arbitrations and threatened contract terminations to Board of Educational Examiners complaints and disputes over evaluations. The following are briefing papers on legal issues of concern to educators.

Beware the Class B (conditional) teaching license

Hopefully, most of you are aware that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners offers a Class B license. 282 I.A.C. 14.116. This level of licensure (commonly referred to as a "conditional" license) allows a teacher to teach outside his or her current endorsement areas. For instance, if you are licensed as a K-6 elementary teacher and would like to teach special education, you can apply for a Class B license that will allow you to do so.

Inappropriate licensure and assignment

In recent months, the executive director of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BEE) has filed several complaints against teachers for failing to hold proper licensure, and administrators for assigning teachers to teach classes for which they are not properly licensed.

What does your personal life have to do with your employment?

Like other professionals, our society holds teachers to a higher code of conduct than the average citizen. Teachers are expected to be effective leaders and role models for their students.

Keeping your nose clean while engaging in politics

The Iowa presidential caucuses were a resounding success, and you should be very proud of your participation.

Overload pay is back on the table

In October, the Iowa Supreme Court

Managing your personnel file

Q: Am I allowed to review my personnel file and why should I do so? A: Iowa law requires an employer to allow employees access to their personnel file. See Iowa Code § 91B.1 (2007).

Keeping your professional distance

Professional distance may be the yardage from tee to green if you're Tiger Woods. But, if you are a teacher or a school employee who has regular contact with students, professional distance is a concept worthy of notice.

How can I get out of my contract?

Teachers may want to get out of their contracts for a variety of reasons, but there could be consequences. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions.

Are you licensed for your position?

If you are a licensed teacher, but you are unlicensed for the particular position you hold with the school district, the Board of Educational Examiners (BEE) may soon be paying you a visit.

Common Questions Regarding Family Medical Leave

The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, is a federal law that requires an employer to provide to an employee twelve weeks of unpaid leave in any 12-month period to care for a family member. Learn more here.

E-mails and the internet: Hazards to your career?

Technology can be a wonderful tool when utilized correctly and for its intended purpose. Utilized incorrectly, technology can cause you serious professional problems, and possibly end your teaching career.

Being your own best advocate against disability discrimination

Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 with the stated purpose of setting clear and consistent standards to address discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

Common questions about coaching contracts

The following are a few of the common legal questions we receive regarding contracts for coaching extracurricular athletic sports.

Signing and resigning from your contract: The final word?

Questions revolving around the issues of signing and resigning from contracts occur annually and have been the subject of much discussion.

Could MySpace.com threaten your career?

Special networking sites have grown enormously in popularity and have become a communication hub for people of all ages, especially for college-age adults.

Maternity Leave: Does it really exist?

Establishing your specific rights to maternity leave can be very confusing because the source of those "rights" will differ among employers.

Dealing with physically aggressive students

One of the more unpleasant aspects of being a school employee is finding yourself in a situation where a student is being physically aggressive. Here are some tips for dealing with these situations.

Workplace harassment: Federal and state protections for employees

When does workplace bullying violate the law? When is unfair treatment illegal?

Being your own best advocate . . .

What every member needs to know about contract rights.

E-Mail, Internet, and Technology Issues

Things You Should Know

You have a right to union representation

Unionized employees have the right to union representation at investigatory meetings conducted by their employer.

Top ten ways new teachers can survive and thrive

Top ten ways new teachers can survive and thrive

Red Flag Moments for Educators

There are moments in the life of an education employee that should cause concern and "raise red flags." Here are some tips and suggestions for staying out of trouble.

To touch or not to touch

For at least the last ten years I have been urging teachers, as well as other school employees we represent, to avoid physically touching students. I do not pretend that advice is good educational advice, and I will leave that advice to the educational experts.

What you need to know about your contract

Regardless of whether you cannot imagine working anywhere else or you are off to greener pastures next year, read on to pick up some good things to think about before you return your signed contract.

To test or not to test

In the wake of the so-called No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act come serious concerns about reporting test results of students that are mandated by that federal legislation.