Introduction to Special Education Law 2026

Brian Jason Ford is the Director of the Pennsylvania Office for Dispute Resolution. Before joining ODR, Mr. Ford practiced special education law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, representing both families and educational agencies at various points in his career. In 2010, he left the private practice of law to become an ODR Hearing Officer. From 2010 through 2025, Mr. Ford served as an ODR Hearing Officer, presiding over roughly two thousand IDEA, Section 504, and gifted education due process hearings and writing hundreds of decisions. In January 2026, he became ODR’s Director upon the retirement of his predecessor, Kerry Voss Smith, Esquire. Mr. Ford holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in management from Franklin & Marshall College, a J.D. from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law, and a Certificate in Advocacy and Alternative Dispute Resolution, also from Penn State. He received a CALI Award for outstanding achievement in the study of mediation and is a Certified Hearing Officer through the National Association of Hearing Officials.

Leona is Founder and Partner at Law Office of Leona Z. Goldshaw LLC (www.leonagoldshawlaw.com). Prior to founding her firm, Leona worked at Oberman & Yazno-Bartle LLC for six years. She represents students and their families from preschool to college when they face challenges in special education, school discipline, gifted education, test taking, accommodations, bullying, and other education matters in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She regularly negotiates with school districts to meet students’ needs, often finds creative solutions, and represents students and their parents in due process hearings when necessary. She recently won a groundbreaking case at a due process hearing and at appeal in federal court which directs Pennsylvania Intermediate Units to pay tuition at typical preschools (and provide transportation) when that child’s disability includes needs that must be fulfilled by attendance at a typical preschool. She brings to her practice more than eighteen years of experience pursuing legal excellence for her clients. Prior to practicing education law, she worked at a national law firm where she litigated complex commercial litigation matters in federal and state court. Leona served as a law clerk to the Honorable R. Barclay Surrick of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She graduated cum laude and Order of the Coif (top ten percent) from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2004. At Penn Law, Leona was honored to serve as an editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Prior to attending law school, Leona advocated on behalf of immigrants seeking political asylum and victims of discrimination for six years in Philadelphia and New York for the Anti-Defamation League, the New York Immigration Coalition and other advocacy groups. She continues to represent asylum-seekers on a pro bono basis and brings a passionate devotion to public interest advocacy and social justice to her practice. Leona has three school-aged children and understands the challenges parents face when advocating for their children.

Beth Shore is Counsel with Fox Rothschild LLP where she focuses her practice on education and labor and employment matters. Before Fox Rothschild, Beth worked as a Deputy Attorney General in the Education and Higher Education Section of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. She represented the New Jersey Department of Education in complex litigation involving special education, charter schools, school funding and the issuance and revocation of teaching certificates, as well as Montclair State University in employment matters. While in law school, Beth worked at the Centre County District Attorney’s Office, the Custody and Support Assistance Clinic of Philadelphia Legal Assistance and as a Certified Legal Intern for the Penn State Dickinson School of Law Family Law Clinic. As an undergraduate, she interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Beth has served as a volunteer counselor for the Ronald McDonald Camp through the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, J.D., and the Pennsylvania State University, B.A.

Aimee Rankin operates a solo education law practice, Rankin Legal LLC, dedicated to serving families and individuals. Prior to opening her own practice in 2022, Aimee was a Partner at Weiss Burkardt Kramer, a leading Pittsburgh education law firm representing public school district clients. Throughout her time as a legal advocate, Aimee has realized success for clients by using a collaborative, student-centered approach. Aimee has represented clients at all levels of state and federal court, as well as administrative agencies such as the Pennsylvania Office for Dispute Resolution, Office for Civil Rights and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Aimee has expertly handled special education cases, student discipline matters, employment matters, and Title IX investigations. Aimee graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Mount Union with a B.A. in Sociology. She obtained her law degree from The University of Pittsburgh in 2008, where she participated as Senior Research Editor for The University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Aimee was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2020-2022 and proudly serves as Co-Chair of the PBA Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee.