Our Team

Jim Walsh is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and one of the founders of Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos & Green, P.C. He is the author of the Common Sense Guide to Special Education Law and the coauthor (with Frank Kemerer and Laurie Maniotis) of The Educator's Guide to Texas School Law, as well as numerous other articles and pamphlets on school law. He writes the popular "Law Dawg" column for each issue of the Legal Digest. Jim is a presenter at most Legal Digest conferences, and he often plays D. W. Doright, principal of Blusterville High School, in the new Legal Digest DVD series. He is also editor in chief of Legal Digest's sister publication, Texas School Business magazine.

Jim is a huge baseball fan and a devoted follower of the Houston Astros. He and his wife, Nathalie Sorrell, have two grown children and one grandson.

Ted Siff is a graduate of Harvard College and has more than 20 years of magazine, book, and newsletter publishing experience. He is responsible for the overall operations of Park Place Publications, L.P., which is the Legal Digest's parent company. He is also the publisher of the Legal Digest's sister magazine, Texas School Business.

Ted has worked for Ralph Nader as well as the late Texas Attorney General John Hill and late Texas Governor Ann Richards. He and his wife Janelle have two daughters who attend Austin ISD schools.

Jennifer Childress is a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law. She is responsible for managing the Legal Digest's Editorial Advisory Board, editing the newsletter and writing its legal developments section, and securing the presenters for all Legal Digest conferences and workshops. She also manages the editing and updating of all Legal Digest school law charts and handbooks.

Jennifer is a former associate at Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Aldridge & Gallegos, P.C. She and her husband, Brett, have four children who attend Austin ISD schools.

Debbie Stover joined the Legal Digest team after serving as executive administrative assistant of the Texas Educational Support Staff Association for 14 years. Her responsibilities include accounts receivable, billing, conference planning and registrations, Legal Digest subscriptions, and general office management. She also manages subscriptions and billing for Texas School Business magazine.

Debbie fell in love with 'the boy across the street' when she was twelve. She and Sidney have now been married for 24 years. Their daughter Sheryl is a senior in an Austin ISD high school.

Stephen Markel attended Texas Tech University and the University of Hawai'i. He has 12 years of management experience in the e-commerce and customer service industries. He also serves as marketing director for Legal Digest's parent company, Park Place Publications, L.P.

Stephen grew up in El Paso where he acquired his current daily burrito addiction. He also maintains an extensive hot sauce collection with varieties from all over the world.

Andrew is pursuing a Bachelor degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from Austin Community College. He has experience with web development and has created and maintains websites for businesses and individuals. Andrew manages and maintains all web content for the Legal Digest as well as the other Park Place websites.

Andrew spends his free time enjoying food in all tastes and flavors. He studies food history religiously and makes his own homemade tofu, cheeses, beer, and sausages.

David Backus is a shareholder with Underwood, Wilson, Berry, Stein and Johnson, P.C. Mr. Backus's practice is comprised chiefly of education and wind energy law. Prior to assuming his duties with the Underwood Law Firm, Mr. Backus served as general counsel for the Region 17 Education Service Center in Lubbock, Senior Attorney with the Texas Association of School Boards' Legal Services Division, and Staff Counsel and Lobbyist with the Texas Association of School Administrators.

Lisa A. Brown is a founding partner of Thompson & Horton LLP. Ms. Brown represents school districts, public and private colleges, cities and other governmental entities, and private employers in employment disputes. In addition to her litigation and appellate practice, Ms. Brown also assists clients with policy manual development, preparation and review of contracts, and compliance with ethics and conflict of interest laws.

Sarah Orman inherited her interest in education law from her father, Jim Walsh. After graduating from the University of California Hastings School of Law in 2006, Sarah represented California public schools for two years as an associate with the firm of Fagen, Friedman & Fulfrost, where she specialized in employment law. Sarah is currently a freelance writer and stay-at-home mother in Austin, Texas.

Laura Rodriguez is a shareholder at Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Aldridge & Gallegos, P.C., where she represents school districts in a wide array of school law matters. Ms. Rodriguez earned her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and her law degree from Texas Tech University. She also has served as a briefing attorney for Chief Justice Alma L. Lopez of the Fourth Court of Appeals and as a staff attorney at the Fourth Court of Appeals.

David P. Thompson is Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio. David has over 20 years of experience in public education at both the PK-12 and higher education levels. David has authored or co-authored over 80 publications, and his works have appeared in such journals as West's Education Law Reporter, the Journal of School Leadership, Educational Administration Quarterly, and the Texas School Administrators' Legal Digest.

Jan Watson is an attorney in the Irving office of Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Aldridge & Gallegos, P.C. Ms. Watson represents Texas school districts in special education matters, including attending Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meetings, filing and responding to requests for due process hearings, consulting with school personnel regarding special education matters, negotiating during mediation sessions, preparing witnesses and evidentiary materials for due process hearings, and representing districts at hearings.