Biography
Todd brings a practical understanding of education environments to his work with local school boards, charter schools, and private schools. Before becoming an attorney, he first served as a substitute teacher in a K-12 public school district before spending ten years working in higher education, focusing on student affairs for two liberal arts colleges and one state university. That experience gave him firsthand insight into the operational, personnel, student, and compliance issues education clients navigate every day.
In his daily practice, Todd assists clients with a wide range of education law matters, including procurement and employment contracts, school board policy development, athletics compliance, exceptional children matters (IEP meetings, state complaints, and due process petitions), student discipline and personnel issues, public records and student records requests, school operations, and bond forfeiture matters. He helps clients respond to legal questions as they arise and works with school administrators and boards to find practical, legally sound solutions.
Areas of Focus
+Education
• Drafts and reviews procurement and employment contracts for public school systems.
• Develops policies for local school boards’ policy manuals.
• Reviews athletics compliance issues, including agreements involving the use of an athlete’s name, image, and likeness.
• Attends IEP meetings as board counsel and responds to state complaints and due process petitions in matters involving exceptional children.
• Advises and represents school administrators in personnel and student discipline matters before local school boards.
• Provides legal counsel at school board meetings.
• Reviews motions to set aside and motions for relief from bond forfeitures and represents school boards in court in bond forfeiture proceedings.
• Assists clients with responding to subpoenas, FERPA requests, and public records requests.
• Counsels school districts on their obligations under the McKinney-Vento Act for students identified as homeless.
• Advises school districts on creating, changing, and closing school codes in the Educational Directory and Demographical Information Exchange (EDDIE) online application when schools open, close, relocate, or consolidate.
Credentials
+Education
Elon University School of Law, J.D., 2023, magna cum laude
James Madison University, M.S., 2011
James Madison University, B.S., 2009
+Notable Accomplishments
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch” (Education Law) 2026-2027
+Speaking Engagements
Presenter: “Name, Image, and Likeness in K-12” (NCBA Law Institute for Teachers, 2026)
Panel: Education Law Society – Elon University School of Law (October 2025 and May 2026)
+Community & Professional Activities
Treasurer, North Carolina Bar Association Education Law Section
