Since October, ASBSD has had the privilege of having Jessica Filler on the team as the Director of Policy and Legal Services.

 

“It’s been great to have Jessica on board at ASBSD,” Executive Director Wade Pogany said. “She’s brought a new perspective along with a vast knowledge base and a desire to work tirelessly.”

 

Filler noted she was “naturally drawn to the education profession” with her parents both having careers in education and herself having been a substitute teacher.

 

“It seems education has always surrounded me—whether due to my parents’ careers or my own,” Filler said. “If I was not a lawyer, I likely would be a teacher.”

 

 

Filler began her law career in private practice with experience in employment law and some school law, but mainly defending schools against claims and lawsuits. After ten years in private practice, she worked with the State of South Dakota Bureau of Administration for four years prior to joining ASBSD.

 

“My role at ASBSD is a perfect culmination of my inherent nature and my prior work experience,” Filler said, adding education law involves nearly every topic imaginable.

 

“In my position I hope to be accessible and resourceful in order to help educators navigate legal hurdles and arising changes and developments in the law, while developing relationships and having some light-hearted conversations and a bit of fun along the way.”

 

Filler and her husband live in Pierre, have one child, who just graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and two golden retrievers who she said “behave as if they too are our children.” She completed her undergraduate work at SDSU and law school at USD.

 

Questions about school law and policy can be directed to filler at 605-773-2513 or at jfiller@asbsd.org.