Erin M. O'Grady-Parent is a partner in the firm's greater Capital Region office in Latham, New York. Her practice focuses on providing general counsel and compliance advice to school districts and BOCES on all aspects of education law, labor and employment law, and public sector labor relations. She represents clients in litigation, arbitrations, and in administrative proceedings before various state and federal agencies. Ms. O'Grady-Parent regularly conducts trainings for school board members and administrators on a wide-variety of topics, including governance, ethics, investigations, sexual harassment, tenure and seniority, evaluation, and discipline. She is a frequent speaker at statewide and national education and employment law conferences.
Prior to joining Guercio & Guercio, LLP, as a partner in 2011, Ms. O'Grady-Parent served as Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs at the New York State Education Department (2009-2011), where she was the chief legal counsel to the Board of Regents and Commissioner of Education. She also served for six years as Deputy Counsel, managing the Department's Office of Counsel, and, before that, as Assistant Counsel in charge of all litigation and appeals to the Commissioner. During her 18-year tenure with the Department, Ms. O'Grady-Parent provided legal advice to the Regents, Commissioner and senior staff on critical policy matters and priority initiatives in all areas under the Department's jurisdiction including P-12 education, higher and professional education, cultural education and vocational education.
Ms. O'Grady-Parent is a member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Association of School Attorneys (NYSASA), and currently serves at Second Vice President. From March 2019 through March 2023, Ms. O'Grady-Parent served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of School Attorneys (COSA). In these roles, Ms. O'Grady-Parent has been actively involved at both the State and National levels in addressing the most significant legal issues facing public school districts.
Ms. O'Grady-Parent, is a cum laude graduate of Albany Law School and a graduate of Cornell University, where she earned a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations. She is the recipient of undergraduate and graduate awards for her outstanding academic achievement and high standing in the field of labor law.
Areas of Practice:
Bar Admissions:
- New York
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of New York
Education:
- Albany Law School, Albany, New York, 1989, J.D. cum laude
- Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 1986, B.S.
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- New York State Association of School Attorneys, Member Board of Directors, 2020 – Present; Second Vice President 2024
- National Council of School Attorneys, Member Board of Directors, March, 2019 - March, 2023
- New York State Bar Association – Labor and Employment and Municipal Law Sections
- New York State Bar Association Task Force on Ethics - Member 2023
- Albany County Bar Association
News & Publications:
Recent Presentations:
- Legal Update, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), 2023 School Business Management Workshop (November 13, 2023)
- Superintendent Contracts, New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), 2023 Annual Convention and Education Expo (October 28, 2023)
- What to Do When a Parent is a Convicted Sex Offender, New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), 2023 Annual Convention and Education Expo (October 27, 2023)
- Legal Update, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), 2023 Education Summit & Expo (June 6, 2023)
- Understanding FMLA, Other Leaves of Absence & Impact on Absenteeism in the Workplace, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), 2022 School Business Management Workshop (November 14, 2022)
- Legal Update, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), 2022 School Business Management Workshop (November 14, 2022)
- School Elections and Budget Votes: Navigating Potential Legal Challenges, New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), 2022 Annual Convention (October 28, 2022)
- School District Records- The Rising Deluge of FOIL Requests, New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), 2022 Summer Law Conference (July 21, 2022)
- Grievance Tactics, Avoiding Arbitration & Tips for Success when Arbitration is Necessary, New York State Management Advocates for School Labor Affairs (MASLA), 44th Annual Summer Conference (July 18, 2022)
- Legal Update, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), 2022 Annual Education Summit ( June 7, 2022)
- Hot Topics & Review for District Clerks, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), Webinar (February 3, 2022)
- Legal Update, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), School Business Management Workshop (November 4, 2021)
- Annual Budget Vote and Election, New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO New York), School Business Management Workshop (November 4, 2021)
- State Educational Policy and Its Impact on the Legal Rights and Responsibilities of School Districts – A Retrospect and a Look Forward, New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), Pre-Convention Virtual School Law Seminar (October 24, 2021)
- APPR and Tenure Decisions in the Aftermath of COVID-19, New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), Virtual Summer Law Conference (July 22, 2021)
- Altered State of Affairs? – New York's Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) and Labor and Employment Issues for Schools, Management Advocates for School Labor Affairs (MASLA), 43rd Annual Summer Conference (July 20, 2021)
- Once More Unto the Breach (of Contract): Lessons Learned from COVID for Collective Bargaining, National Council of School Attorneys (COSA), Online School Law Seminar (April 2021)
Publications:
- Handling Medical Emergencies in School: What state law and regulations require, New York State School Boards Association (April 3, 2023)
- As We Await State Guidance, Answers to Questions on Health Screening and Other Reopening Protocols, New York State School Boards Association, On Board (June 29, 2020)
- When Disputes Arise in School Districts, Who Decides?, New York State School Boards Association, On Board (February 15, 2016)
- Standards Firestorm - Common Core has raised legal issues over standards, assessments, and parental rights,American School Board Journal (December 2014)
- Motions for Entry into Executive Session – What is Required?, New York State School Boards Association, On Board (October 15, 2012)
Honors & Awards:
- Albany Law School - Justinian Society; Saratoga County Bar Association Scholarship; and Patrick B. McNamara Labor Law Award (awarded to the graduate with the highest standing in the field of labor law)