SNLL - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• of Counsel, Austin Office

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate, Houston Office

Mr. Francis is an associate in the Houston office. His primary practice is representing school districts as well as other public and private sector employers in labor, employment, and civil rights litigation matters.

Job Titles:

• of Counsel, Waco Office

Ms. Tekell has extensive experience in school law as well as in employment and civil rights law. She served as in-house counsel for a large public school district for 10 years, and prior to going in-house full-time, handled civil litigation matters on both sides of the civil docket in federal and state courts. As a school attorney, she handles issues particular to public school districts, including special education mediation and due process hearings, grievances, personnel matters, open government issues, TEA and Office of Civil Rights complaints and Title IX, harassment, discrimination, retaliation and bullying investigations. She also has experience with employment and civil rights matters, including Texas Education Code Chapter 21 contracts, non-renewals and terminations. Since she served as in-house counsel for a fast growth school district, she also has extensive experience with AIA construction and professional services contracting, management, and disputes. She also holds a Texas teaching certificate and taught high school for two years. Before specializing in school law, Ms. Tekell handled complex business, insurance, employment, and civil rights litigation. She spent several years defending first party insurance claims across the state of Texas. After law school, she served for two years as a Briefing Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division. Ms. Tekell joined the firm in 2022 as an Of Counsel attorney. Previously, Ms. Tekell served as a Trustee on the Waco ISD Board of Trustees. PRACTICE AREAS General School Law

Job Titles:

• Associate, Houston Office

Ms. Mask joined SNLL as a law clerk before becoming an associate attorney in 2024. Ms. Mask's primary practice includes representing school districts in disability law and special education.

Job Titles:

• Associate, Lufkin Office

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of the State Bar of Texas School Law Section
• Partner, Houston Office

Mr. Corsaut is a partner in the Houston office. His practice primarily includes the representation of public and private sector entities in administrative proceedings and employment litigation. He regularly handles issues particular to public school districts, including local grievances, complaints filed with the Texas Education Agency and U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, and administrative hearings and appeals under the Texas Education Code, including grievances, nonrenewals, and terminations. He also routinely defends employers from charges of discrimination arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Texas Workforce Commission. Mr. Corsaut's litigation practice includes constitutional claims arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, employment discrimination claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, discrimination and interference claims arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act, contract disputes, and tort claims. Mr. Corsaut is a member of the State Bar of Texas School Law Section. He has served as the AV Coordinator for the School Law Section since 2022. Previously, he served as the School Law Section's Pro Bono Liaison with the Texas Access to Justice Commission between 2019 and 2021. He is also a member of the State Bar of Texas Labor & Employment Law Section, the Texas Council of School Attorneys, and the National Council of School Attorneys. Mr. Corsaut has been designated by Texas Monthly Magazine as a Rising Star, which is a recognition for only 5% of Texas attorneys who are either under 40 years or age or have practiced 10 years or less, each year since 2019.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Chairman of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
• Partner, Houston Office

Mr. Rush is a partner in the Houston office. Mr. Rush is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and his practice includes the representation of public and private sector employers in employment and civil rights litigation. Mr. Rush's litigation practice includes constitutional claims arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 employment discrimination claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code; the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Mr. Rush also represents clients in administrative hearings and appeals under the Texas Education Code, including terminations, nonrenewals, and grievances. Mr. Rush is the Chair of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas for 2025, and he is a frequent speaker and trainer on many topics impacting schools and colleges, including Board/Superintendent relations, employment law, open government, and student matters. Mr. Rush is also a course instructor for the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO).

Job Titles:

• Partner, Houston Office

Job Titles:

• Partner, Houston Office

Job Titles:

• of Counsel
• Member of the American Bar Association
• of Counsel, Houston Office

Ms. Anderson is Of Counsel in the Houston office. Ms. Anderson's experience results from her roles as in-house counsel for the largest public school district and one of the largest community colleges in Texas. Her practice includes assisting institutions with matters involving board governance, open government laws, policy development, contract negotiations, employment law, regulatory compliance, and elections. As a school attorney, she handled issues particular to school districts, including special education, grievances, personnel matters, open government issues, contracts, and Office of Civil Rights complaints, as well as Title IX, harassment, discrimination, retaliation and bullying investigations. During her tenure as in-house counsel in higher education, she oversaw compliance operations in addition to her duties as Deputy General Counsel. Within this role Ms. Anderson drafted, revised, developed, and recommended board policies and procedures including administrative regulations. She has worked with accreditation bodies to ensure that the institution meets necessary standards, preparing documentation and coordinating responses to accreditation reviews. As a member of the district's incident management team and having undergone FEMA's National Incident Management System training, Ms. Anderson has extensive experience with crisis management efforts, coordinating responses and communication strategies that uphold the institution's reputation while adhering to legal obligations. Her work as in-house counsel included advising and representing the district in employment matters, including employee complaints, discipline, termination, and training. Ms. Anderson has also served as a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), her executive experience encompasses talent acquisition, payroll, compensation, benefits, organizational development, and employee relations, all underpinned by a robust understanding of labor laws and regulations. As CHRO, she was instrumental in aligning HR strategies with institutional objectives. Her ability to bridge the gap between legal requirements and human resources practices made her a trusted advisor to both legal and operational teams. As a member of the senior executive team, she has played a pivotal role in drafting and revising business continuity plans and critical messages for her institution. Ms. Anderson's leadership in this capacity contributed significantly to enhancing workplace culture and employee engagement, driving initiatives that resulted in multiple recognitions including national designation as a "Best Place for Working Parents" and a ranking by Forbes as a fourth "Best Place to Work" in Texas. A graduate of University of Houston Law Center, Ms. Anderson is a member of the American Bar Association and various educational law associations including National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Texas School Law Section. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rice University. When she isn't working, Ms. Anderson enjoys spending time with her husband, Jason, and their two sons, Jaiz and Ian. She is a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado. PRACTICE AREAS General School Law

Job Titles:

• Associate, Houston Office
• Member of the Texas Council of School Attorneys

Ms. Rice is a member of the Texas Council of School Attorneys, National Council of School Attorneys, Houston Young Lawyers Association, Houston Bar Association, and is an Assistant Editor of the Appellate Lawyer Publication Committee. In the community, Ms. Rice is a member of the Junior League of Houston and currently serves as a pen pal to students at the Westview School.

Job Titles:

• Associate, Houston Office
• Houston Office As an Associate
• Member of the Houston Bar Association

Mr. Acosta joined the Houston Office as an Associate in March 2021. His primary practice is representing school districts in special education, disability law, and matters involving student rights and discipline. Mr. Acosta is a member of the Houston Bar Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, and the Hispanic National Bar Association.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner, Houston Office

Ms. Goins is a partner in the Houston office. Ms. Goins' primary practice includes representing school districts as well as other public and private sector employers in all forms of employment matters. In Ms. Goins' litigation practice she has successfully defended cases under Section 1983, Title VII, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Title IX, and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act. Ms. Goins' practice also includes representing school districts in special education and disability law matters.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner, Houston Office

Job Titles:

• of Counsel, Houston Office

Job Titles:

• Partner, Houston Office

SPALDING NICHOLS LAMP LANGLOIS is comprised of veteran school lawyers serving both urban and rural school districts across the State of Texas. With a combined 125+ years of experience representing schools, community colleges, charter schools, and other governmental entities, the partners at SNLL are an integral component to the Texas public school landscape.

Job Titles:

• Associate, Houston Office
• Member of the Real Estate

Mr. Powers is a member of the Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and he volunteers at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.