Heather Pierson, J.D. - Ms. Pierson comes to Udall Shumway PLC uniquely qualified in the area of education law. Prior to joining Udall  Shumway, Ms. Pierson taught behavior disordered students. During her teaching career, Ms. Pierson was involved in the development and implementation of Individualized Education Plans (“IEP”) and behavior plans and attended several trainings on special education and regular education interventions and strategies. While in law school, Ms. Pierson provided in-home ABA services for autistic children under the age of three and participated in the Whittier Law School Special Education Clinic, which provided special education advocacy services for children with developmental disabilities. Additionally, Ms. Pierson earned her Master’s Degree in Special  Education in 2004.  Ms. Pierson primarily focuses her School Law practice on special education and disability related matters. She routinely defends school districts and other public educational institutions in matters related to disability law matters, such as special education due process hearings, Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) complaints, Section 504  due process hearings, mediation, and special education state complaints. She provides daily advice and assistance in matters related to special education, Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, student discipline, personnel issues and student records. Ms. Pierson taught Contemporary Developments in Special  Education Law through Northern Arizona University during the Spring of 2014. She has also given in-service workshops to district personnel on a wide range of special education and disability related topics and speaks at state-wide conferences.

Mike Paget, M.Ed. - Mike Paget, M.Ed., has been a teacher-therapist, director of school mental health programs, and consultant in the SC Department of Education. He provides seminars for schools across the US and Canada. An author, Mike serves as secretary on the MSLBD.org Board of Directors. His content is K-12 and appropriate for general and special ed teachers, counselors, administrators, and other support staff. His content focuses on practical strategies and accommodations for responding to a variety of mental health challenges. His topics have included anxiety, acting in disorders, acting out disorders, and trauma and resilience. Since 2000, Mike has given multiple presentations at national conferences, over 450 seminars in cities across the US and Canada, and 70 seminars for individual schools and districts.  Mike is the co-author of Confronting Anxiety: 96 Insights and Strategies for Helping Students Manage Their THINKING and FEELING Powers; Defying the Defiance: 155 Insights, Strategies, Lessons, and Activities for Helping Students with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, 2nd edition; High On The Spectrum: Asperger’s, High Functioning Autism, and Related Personalities; and Lost and Found: Rescuing our Kids from Video, Screen, Technology, and Gaming Addictions.