MEET YOUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEYS

Did you know that The School District of Lee County is the ninth largest school district in Florida? It is the 33rd largest school district in the United States. The District operates 118 schools throughout the county for approximately 95,000 students. The second largest employer in Lee County, the School District has over 12,000 employees and an operating budget of two billion dollars.

The legal needs of the School District are vast and include: education law, torts, contracts, business, construction, ethics and compliance, government, litigation, constitutional issues, employment, union and labor matters, policy making, applying Robert’s Rules of Order and many other areas of law.

These legal needs are met by the District’s legal department, comprised of four in-house attorneys, support staff, law clerks and outside counsel when needed.

Kathy Dupuy-Bruno is in her fourth year as school board attorney and general counsel for the District. A natural fit, Kathy has been a child advocate and committed to public service throughout her career.

Her current role allows her to expand on that dedication by having a larger impact on children in Lee County and the community. “Over the past 24 years as a practicing attorney, I have been exposed to many areas of law and built a repertoire of skills. The combination of those legal experiences, lawyer skills, uncompromising ethics and soft skills are strengths that I bring to my current role,” explained Kathy.

Trained in collaborative law and as a mediator, Kathy previously served as an Attorney ad Litem in dependency cases and Guardian ad Litem in custody cases. She has represented individuals in special education matters, family law and civil rights cases, as well as handling insurance liability claims, workers’ compensation and employment-related matters.

“Believe it or not, my biggest strength is soft skills – the ability to work with all kinds of personalities, form bridges, actively listen and play a part in problem-solving,” she said.

That expertise comes in handy in her current position with the District. “Prior to this role, I could not imagine the enormous effort that it takes to operate a school system, especially a district of our size. I now have a deep appreciation for leadership and our staff’s commitment and dedication to students. The issues we face on a daily basis are formidable and obstacles abound— but we get it done every day,” said Kathy.

Kathy is quick to express pride in her legal team, who work tirelessly and proficiently to do their part for the District’s students, staff and community. Shaina Zuppke and Corey Huffman joined the legal team in 2022, followed by Corris McIntosh, Jr. in 2023.

Assistant School Board Attorney Shaina Zuppke serves as in-house counsel, providing legal services involving all areas of business services and operations. This includes procurement, construction, document review for academic services and charter schools, policy and public records.

She started her legal career as an assistant attorney for the Office of Criminal and Civil Regional Counsel, and has practiced for ten years as an attorney. Prior to coming to the District, Shaina was a general practitioner and owned her own law firm for five years.

“Working for the School District allows me to combine my experiences in business, my passion to serve our community and children, and my knowledge of the law. My current position has all of those aspects intricately involved in the day-to-day legal needs of the District,” said Shaina.

“Working in litigation and business has fine-tuned my ability to see the larger picture, to find solutions with the challenges that the education system is facing,” she added.

Shaina enjoys navigating the complex issues that school districts face on a daily basis. “I get to work on many diverse and complex issues that incorporate education, finance, procurement, construction, academics, public records, government relations and so much more. I am constantly challenged and get to work with knowledgeable colleagues across the District,” explained Shaina.

The most rewarding part of her job? “I get to see the full cycle of my work. The policy and contracts that I have created are being used by the District, so I get to see many of these programs, services and goods in action. My own child gets to experience things that I helped build,” she said.

Her colleague, Assistant School Board Attorney Corey Huffman, also values the opportunity to find solutions and provide valuable representation for children in Lee County.

A native of Naples, Florida, Corey graduated from Florida State University College of Law with a juris doctor in 2011. Corey is an avid reader and sits on the Board of Directors for two nonprofit organizations in his free time.

Corey started his legal career in public interest work at Collier County Legal Aid. “I have spent my entire legal career representing children with special needs to ensure they received the proper educational support to which they are entitled,” said Corey.

His background in representing children spans from education to the foster care system. “I have worked in family law to protect children from violence at the hands of their parents and other individuals. I have also assisted children through custody proceedings to protect them from abusive parents,” explained Corey.

The transition to working for the School District was a natural next step. Today, he brings his unique perspective and experience to the District’s Lee County constituents as the assistant school board attorney who handles academic services. “It made sense to come assist the Board and School District staff in providing these services to our children. We work hard to ensure all receive an exceptional education from the Lee County School District,” he said.

The School District’s legal team operates in support of the Board’s mission to help each student achieve his or her highest personal potential through the values of excellence, integrity, high expectation, accountability, believing in its students, and exhibiting the utmost professionalism.

This mission and the drive to provide an excellent education is also what motivates Corris McIntosh, Jr., the legal team’s fourth and final team member. “The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that our work contributes to the process of providing education for youth in our community,” said Corris.

A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Corris graduated from Stetson College of Law with a juris doctor and a master’s degree in business administration from the Stetson School of Business in 2007. While attending undergraduate school at Brown University, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in public and private sector organizations.

Corris practiced as a commercial attorney in private practice, prior to joining the Office of Legal Services with the Lee County School District. “My decision to serve the school board was based on my desire to work within an organization that provides an opportunity to have a positive impact on the community. As someone who has been educated in the Lee County School District, my prior experience working in local government brings a unique perspective to the role of assistant school board attorney,” explained Corris.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

Working together, this intrepid team of four guides the School District of Lee County through a myriad of changes and unexpected obstacles each year. No two years ever present the exact same set of challenges – and the 2022-2023 school year was no exception.

For example, the legal team sprang into action last year to help get schools reopened expeditiously and safely following Hurricane Ian. “Doing our part to help Lee County get back to normal was a monumental task,” said Kathy

“During that time, we remained responsible for ensuring that the District stayed in compliance with federal, state and local statutes and regulations, as well as monitoring the ever-changing legal landscape. Last year, the School Board also conducted a major overhaul to its policies, adopting over 500 policies and implementing a Speak Up, Listen Up initiative to improve the overall work culture at the District,” she said.

Throughout it all, the legal team was an integral part of the forward momentum. “Being a lawyer gives you a unique set of skills that you can use in every field. It gives you the ability to learn information quickly, break it down and utilize it in almost every situation,” said Shaina.

That’s not going to change any time soon. “Ultimately, the most rewarding part of the job is being an active contributor to the School Board’s vision of being a world-class school system,” said Kathy.

As the 2023-2024 school year ramps up, the attorneys who comprise your school board legal team will remain as diligent as ever to support Lee County youth.