Kathleen M. Metcalfe
Managing Attorney of Special Education
katie@mykidslawyer.com
Katie has practiced special education and pupil services law since 2010. Although Katie represented public school districts in the past, she always had an eye on the best interest of students. Katie has expertise in all areas of special education: analyzing and providing advice regarding special education documents, attending IEP meetings, litigating due process hearings, and advocating for clients in federal court. Katie has conducted numerous professional development and training opportunities for parents, teachers, administrators, attorneys, and other professionals regarding the IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the corresponding Pennsylvania special education regulations as well as the gifted regulations.
Prior to her special education practice, Katie began her law career as a public defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia representing both adults and children in criminal matters which gave her extensive training in the courtroom as a litigator. Katie then transitioned to the Child Advocate Unit and represented dependent youth in Philadelphia in both dependency and delinquency court.
Katie graduated from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2002 with recognition in Outstanding Oral Advocacy and cum laude from Muhlenberg College in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and Philosophy. Katie is barred in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Katie is an avid Philadelphia sports fan and music lover. Katie lives in Montgomery County with her husband and daughter.
Practice Areas:
⦁ Special Education
⦁ Pupil Services
⦁ School Discipline
⦁ Truancy
⦁ Juvenile Justice
⦁ Civil Rights
⦁ Disability Discrimination
Education:
⦁ Temple University Beasley School of Law, J.D., 2002
⦁ Muhlenberg College, B.A., 1999
Court Admissions:
⦁ Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
⦁ Supreme Court of New Jersey
⦁ United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Experience:
Sweet, Stevens, Katz, & Williams, LLP, Senior Associate
School District of Philadelphia, Assistant General Counsel
Defender Association of Philadelphia, Child Advocate Attorney
Defender Association of Philadelphia, Assistant Defender
