Administrator Spotlight

Leila Seigrist

General Counsel, Cabot Public School District

Leila Seigrist, General Counsel for Cabot Public Schools graduated from the Bowen School of Law and became a licensed attorney in 2010. She went on to work in private practice, as the Deputy Reporter of Decisions for the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and as a deputy prosecuting attorney, before becoming the Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs for Cabot Public Schools in 2020. She says, "I love public service, and I want to use my skills for that purpose. However, education was definitely something new for me. My oldest daughter was already a student in Cabot Public Schools when [the opening] was posted. Public education has always been a passion, and, though there were a lot of unknowns for me, I knew it was a move that I wanted to make." In her initial role, she oversaw the hiring process for every school staff member and also provided legal advice and direction to the district. Over time, her responsibilities shifted and she became the district's General Counsel.

Leila says her job is both one of the most challenging and most rewarding positions she's ever held. Her favorite thing is "both being able to see the immediate impact and being able to imagine the future impact that our decisions and choices create for students. Public schools are the real boots-on-the-ground organizations behind both present and generational change." However, she says the greatest challenge is that here is not always a fix for every problem. "Every public school employee knows the reality of getting into bed at night worrying about and praying for the students whose lives are the things of nightmares," she explains. "I have staff members contact me frequently asking for advice on avenues within the law to help in these situations. The most challenging part of my job is telling them that the law doesn’t have an answer and cannot fix whatever horror these students are going through. It can feel very helpless at times when I want to be able to find the remedy."

She advises to those interested in a similar job: "Do it! It’s difficult, but you won’t regret it! In a typical legal career, you are not personally invested in your clients and are just doing your job. As part of a school district, you’re personally and emotionally invested and really are part of a team that you want to succeed---not just for a win, but because you don’t want to let down the team that’s depending on you."

? Q&A ! with Leila Seigrist

What is the best advice you have ever received?

In hard situations where you don’t know what to do and are overwhelmed, pray about it and then do the next right thing. And then do the next right thing again.

What major changes have you seen in education during your career?

Wow. I started with Cabot Public Schools on July 1, 2020, as schools were reopening from COVID. I hear stories all of the time about what a different world that schools were preCOVID, but I don’t have the first-hand experience. So, the biggest change that I’ve seen in my legal career would have to be LEARNS. The rules changed and we were all on a level playing field as we navigated through this overhaul. While the rules may have changed, I’m happy that the people haven’t. Educators are still resilient and passionate.

What’s something that amazes you?

I’m amazed at how creative educators are. My legal brain has a tendency to be very black and white, but educators are the most creative group of people that can meet a student on any level and push them to success.

What do you enjoy doing during your time off?

I can be found with my husband of nearly fifteen years and our 12-year-old and 8-year-old daughters. You can find us playing board games, dreaming about our next vacation, or volunteering with our church. I also never underestimate the power of a good nap!

What is one of the things on your “Bucket List?”

I want to skydive! Someone may have to push me, but I’ll be glad that they did!

What do you see as the biggest benefit of AAEA membership?

AAEA membership is helpful for so many reasons, but my favorite benefit is networking. There are very few in-house counsel positions in school districts in Arkansas. When you’re working in a law firm, you walk next door to the next attorney’s office and talk through ideas or plans, and that’s not possible in a school district. But AAEA has given us the ability to have that network even though we may be spread around the state rather than sharing an office wall.