Partner
Stephanie Lovett-Bowman is a litigator and counselor. She specializes in helping schools and other employers resolve disputes and implement best practices to avoid risk and conflict. Her goal is to help schools maximize their time and resources so they can focus on what they do best: educating students.
As a former investigative attorney for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Stephanie has unique insight to advise educational institutions and other employers in responding to government agency investigations. Her investigative work at OCR also provides her significant experience in conducting internal investigations. Stephanie frequently works as an outside, neutral investigator for complaints involving employees and students.
Stephanie regularly represents clients in administrative proceedings and lawsuits involving discrimination, employment contracts, student bullying and harassment, and regulatory compliance. She also has substantial appellate experience, having successfully argued appeals in front of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Among other matters, Stephanie provides counsel on sensitive situations including employee terminations, discipline, and leave issues. Stephanie is also well-versed in drafting policies and regulations that comply with the complex legal regulations that surround the public school system and private employers. She frequently provides training to supervisors and employees to help prevent complaints and concerns from arising. Stephanie provides counsel regarding federal and state education laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, teacher tenure laws, open records laws, and constitutional issues.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Stephanie worked as a journalist for a Philadelphia newspaper.
Highlights of Stephanie’s experience include:
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a school district and school principal in a suit by a former student pressing claims under the U.S. Constitution for the defendants’ alleged failure to respond to racial discrimination by an employee and students.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a school district and four administrators in student bullying case based on immunity defenses and failure to produce evidence of actionable discrimination under the Missouri Human Rights Act. (Affirmed on appeal.)
- Obtained dismissal of multiple lawsuits against a charter school based on the school’s compliance with Missouri vaccination laws.
- Tried special education due process hearing regarding sufficiency of school district’s evaluation and educational program for student, resulting in hearing
Recent Presentations
- “Religious Freedom v. Board Policies,” Missouri School Boards’ Association Conference, November 2022
- “Back-to-School Hot Topics,” Labor & Employment Seminar, October 2022
- “Workplace Investigations: Keeping Your Hands on the Wheel and Your Eyes on the Prize,” Spencer Fane WorkSmarts Seminar, September 2022
- “The Ever-Evolving Status of the Title IX Regulations,” Spencer Fane webinar, May 2021
- “COVID-19: Impact on School Districts & Recent Developments,” Spencer Fane webinar, March 2021
- “#MeTooK12: Title IX investigations in the K-12 Environment,” Missouri School Boards’ Association Conference, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, September 2018
- “Disability Accommodations: Common Complaints and Tips,” Missouri Community College Association, June 2017
MEMBERSHIPS
- Kansas Bar
- Missouri Bar
- Council of School Attorneys
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
- Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City
Civic Involvement
- Kansas City Tomorrow – class of 2017, The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
- Operation Breakthrough volunteer
DISTINCTIONS
- Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2015, 2022
- Elected to Order of the Coif, University of Kansas School of Law
- Law School Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, University of Kansas School of Law
- Editor-in-chief of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, University of Kansas School of Law
Contact Stephanie Lovett-Bowman at 816.292.8216 or slovettbowman@spencerfane.com.