Sherry Culves represents K-12 schools, public and private colleges and universities, charter schools, and other education entities and vendors. She serves as both outside general counsel and in areas of unique needs for educational entities. She partners with superintendents, presidents, board members, and other education leaders to develop policies and procedures that meet their needs and align with the unique culture and characteristics of their institutions.
Sherry advises on legal, regulatory, and policy compliance, including developing or overhauling policy and procedural manuals. She regularly provides training that fits her clients' cultures and missions. She has counseled clients on the Higher Education Act (including Title IV financial aid issues), Title IX (sex discrimination and harassment), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and other laws and regulations impacting education.
She has extensive depth in the area of disability law, including helping K-12 and higher education clients navigate both student and employee discrimination and accommodation claims based on disabilities.
Sherry also has substantial experience in employment litigation. She has defended clients against all types of federal discrimination claims, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges, Department of Justice investigations, Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights investigations. She understands the unique employment issues that colleges, universities, and K-12 schools encounter. For example, Sherry has represented universities and K-12 systems in disputes with faculty, tenure matters, and reductions in force. She helps education clients investigate allegations of discrimination and retaliation and carry out their procedural due process. She has advised on leave management as well, including under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and ADA.
In addition, Sherry provides counsel on executive compensation for college presidents, K-12 superintendents, and other education leaders. She has conducted compensation studies, negotiated initial contracts and exit packages, and releases.
Sherry is a nationally recognized speaker in the area of education, employment, and disability law and regularly presents to groups supporting schools and colleges on both a state and national level.