An attorney with over three decades of experience in law and education, Kelly Himes Brolly graduated with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with an undergraduate degree in early childhood education with a concentration in social studies. After three years of teaching in the public school system, she attended Seton Hall University School of Law, and graduated cum laude. While in law school, Kelly was a National Moot Court Competitor, the Director of the Moot Court Board, and a judicial intern for the Chief Judge of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Kelly was admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars in 1994 and began her litigation practice as a judicial clerk for a trial judge in Center City Philadelphia. Thereafter, she gained extensive litigation experience at Fox Rothschild, LLP, a large nationally-ranked law firm. After moving to Georgia, Kelly became involved in education legislation, full-time clinic coverage, public school funding, charter systems, charter schools, school system policy, and various federal programs for students such as 504 Plans and Individualized Education Plans. Kelly added to her bar admissions when she was admitted to practice in Georgia in 2016. Thereafter, she worked for a firm in Roswell, Georgia, representing clients in education law matters. Well-versed in trial and appellate work, in 2019 Kelly co-authored an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court on a federal constitutional issue. In addition to three state bars, she is admitted to practice before several United States District Courts as well as the Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. Kelly Himes Brolly, of Double Umbrella Publications, LLC, offers writing, podcast, and consulting services. For more information and to make quantity purchases, visit www.doubleumbrellapublications.com.
"""Today, many parents feel the need to ""protect"" their children in public school. At the same time, few people understand the inner workings of the public school system. Kelly Himes Brolly has succeeded in writing this excellent book to educate and equip both parents and educators about the laws and rules that govern public school K-12 and about federal and state constitutional rights of parents and students. This book is written for the layperson and is user-friendly, comprehensive, and succinct - which is not an easy balance to strike. This guide is a must-have tool for parents who need to effectively navigate the complexities of legal issues impacting their children in school. I would recommend this book to you without reservation."" -Ollie L. Garmon, III, Retired Judge ""Having spent 43 years as a K-12 public school teacher, coach, middle and high school principal, and 17 years as a school superintendent, I read with great interest Laws, Rules, and Rights: A Guide to Protecting Children in Public Schools. My first thought was that I truly wished I had it in my graduate education classes. It summarized everything one needed to know about education in the United States, and how public education operates at the federal, state, and local levels. It also presented these ideas in a simple, yet articulate manner. Second, this book clearly described how parents could successfully advocate for their children in the complex world of education. It explained the rules, and how to advocate, and gave clear examples of how to proceed in a professional manner. I heartily endorse this book to advocate for children and encourage parents and school professionals. It is a trusted guide to support our most precious resource, our children."" -Jim Ryan, Ed.D, Retired Superintendent, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Michigan"