Most students go to school and do not expect to get into enough trouble to be kicked out. Their minds are focused on tests, studying, seeing friends, and what's for lunch. This is why it can be jarring to learn that you or your child has been accused of a code of conduct violation that is so egregious it warrants an academic progression meeting or a disciplinary hearing.
Many schools expect students to meet unfair or unrealistic expectations without taking into consideration the students' backgrounds or experiences. And accusations such as these can cause prejudiced, long-term consequences for your student. When a student is notified of progression issues or disciplinary action, working with an attorney advisor is the best way to make sure they are properly defended.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento is a qualified attorney advisor who is able to help students located in the Knoxville, Tennessee, metropolitan area. Call today for help.
Knoxville Metropolitan Area
The Knoxville metropolitan area (also known as Greater Knoxville) is Tennessee's third largest metropolitan area, made up of the following counties:
- Anderson
- Blount
- Campbell
- Cocke
- Grainger
- Hamblen
- Jefferson
- Knox
- Loudon
- Morgan
- Roane
- Sevier
- Union
Within these counties there are dozens of towns and villages that make up the Greater Knoxville metro area. The largest of these communities include:
- Knoxville
- Alcoa
- Clinton
- Farragut
- Halls Crossroads
- Lenoir City
- Maryville
- Morristown
- Oak Ridge
- Powell
- Sevierville
- Seymour
Usually, attorneys focus their practice on one particular area or town, but Attorney Lento believes that all students deserve proper representation, so he focuses on helping students everywhere. He knows how hard these proceedings can be for students who do not receive proper advice and hopes that by having a national reach, he'll be able to help more of them.
If you or your child have been accused of violating part of the school's conduct rules or are struggling to progress through their classes, Attorney Lento will work tirelessly to ensure your voice is heard.
Knoxville, TN Metro Area Student Concerns
School teaches students how to juggle personal relationships with their peers, professors, and administration, with working on getting good grades and thinking about what they want to be in the future. No matter how hard they work or what grade they are in, they will always be facing challenges. Students in the Knoxville metro area have additional concerns as well, like avoiding substance abuse, a growing crime rate, and housing insecurity. For many, school is the only consistent place in their lives, and the idea of losing their spot in the classroom is quite scary.
Unfortunately, schools rarely see a student's unwelcome behavior as a cry for help. Instead, they punish the students, choosing to believe the student is merely lazy and unmotivated. Having an attorney advisor in your corner for these proceedings will ensure the school understands the root cause of your behavior and offers help rather than punishment.
Knoxville Metro Area Schools
Attorney Lento and the Lento Law Firm will provide an exceptional defense to students in the Knoxville metropolitan area who are accused of academic progression issues or student conduct violations.
Attorney Lento can help undergraduate and graduate students at the following universities and colleges in the Knoxville metropolitan area:
- Knoxville College
- Johnson University
- University of Tennessee
- Maryville College
- South College – Knoxville
- Pellissippi State Community College
- King University – Knoxville Campus
- Lincoln Memorial University
In addition to the colleges Attorney Lento can help at, they are extremely experienced working with students between kindergarten and twelfth grade as well. In the Knoxville metro area, these public-school districts include:
- Maryville City Schools
- Alcoa City Schools
- Oak Ridge School District
- Knox County Schools
- Anderson County School District
- Lenoir City School District
- Loudon County School District
- Blount County School District
- Roane County School District
- Monroe County School District
- Union County School District
- Clinton City School District
- Sweetwater City School District
Attorney Lento and Lento Law Firm can also assist private school students, including students at:
- Webb School of Knoxville
- Knoxville Catholic High School
- Christian Academy of Knoxville
- Grace Christian Academy
- Clayton-Bradley Academy
- Berean Christian School
- Knoxville Christian School
- Apostolic Christian School
- Paideia Academy
- First Baptist Academy
- Rivers Edge Christian Academy
- Temple Baptist Academy
- The King's Academy
- Maryville Christian School
- Crossroads Christian Academy
- Concord Christian School
- Apostolic Christian Academy
- OneSchool Global
- Seymour Community Christian School
- The Episcopal School of Knoxville
- St. John Neumann Catholic School
- Gateway Center
- Sacred Heart Cathedral School
The Lento Law Firm doesn't just help students in traditional schools, they also help students in specialty, technical, and professional programs in Knoxville, such as:
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Knoxville
- Dental Staff School Knoxville
- Arbor College School of Massage
- Tennessee School of Beauty
- Compassionate Care Technical Center
- Ross Medical Education Center
- Tennessee School for the Deaf
Disciplinary Defense in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area
It is not uncommon for students of any age to get into trouble when they are in school. Usually, these students are reprimanded or mildly punished and can move forward without experiencing a ton of consequences. But there are other students who continue to get into trouble, get falsely accused of issues they did not start or weren't really involved with, or their behaviors get more complex and disruptive to not only their own educational experiences, but their peers as well. When this happens, an attorney advisor's help becomes necessary to avoid severe consequences that have lifelong effects on them.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento has unmatched experience helping students across the country who have been accused of disciplinary action. Their unique understanding of both the law and the school's policies and procedures, provides them an advantage when creating a strategic defense on your behalf. They are experts at finding flaws with the other side's arguments and using them to tear it apart. If you expect to avoid any unnecessary punishments, working with Attorney Lento is indispensable.
Academic Progression Issues
Students are expected to complete their courses and move through their programs at a specified pace. This helps keep students motivated to maintain their grades and establish themselves quickly. Sadly, this kind of pressure can be overwhelming for students who have learning differences or unfortunate life experiences. Inevitably, this overwhelm can lead to progression issues and when that happens, students are asked to leave their schools. When a student is left behind like that, it can have a serious impact on their mental health, future prospects and self-esteem.
At theWebb School of Knoxville, high school students must acquire 20.5 credits in their English, Foreign Language, History, Math, Science, Fine Arts, and required non-major courses, as well take another five elective courses, and fulfill a public performance in Chapel in order to qualify for graduation. At the end of the student's junior year, or any time during their senior year, if they receive either an F in one or more class or a D in two or more courses, they will be placed on academic watch. Seniors on academic watch are obligated to participate in study hall during their free period and to attend “extra help” every day. If they do not, they run the risk graduating on time with their classmates.
High school is not the only place progression issues are a problem. At South College Knoxville, students are expected to make noticeable progress through their program. If they perform poorly, have insufficient grades or several withdrawals from courses, it could result in a satisfactory academic progress issue. To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must be able to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA, a minimum cumulative course completion rate, and complete their programs in not more than 1.5 times the required program length. Students who fail to do so will be referred for dismissal from the program.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Just as schools require students to meet measurable progression milestones, they also compel students to follow certain academic integrity standards, including avoiding academic misconduct. The definition of academic misconduct varies from school to school, but for the most part, it encompasses conduct like cheating, plagiarism, forging school documents, and submitting the same assignment for multiple courses without permission. It also includes helping other students commit such acts.
AtFulton High School, students are asked to refrain from committing plagiarism, which they define as stealing another person's ideas or writings and using them as if they were your own. Teachers are responsible for punishing students for cheating or plagiarizing.
For most schools, the harshness of the punishments imposed generally depend on the seriousness of the alleged conduct. But schools often fail to provide students with an opportunity to explain or defend themselves before punishing them. When this happens, students are made to suffer punishments that are excessive and over the top. Attorney Lento will be able to negotiate with the school on your child's behalf to make sure the school provides you with a fair opportunity to be heard.
Behavioral Misconduct Issues
When the school year begins, students are given a copy of the school's student handbook. This happens when you are entering kindergarten for the first time or starting your senior of college. Prior to college, you are asked to have your parents sign the student handbook with you to ensure you are both aware of the policies and procedures contained within. One section, the Code of Conduct, outlines the exact behaviors the school hopes to see their students exhibit, and the behaviors they do not want to see. If a student violates their school's code of conduct, they will be referred for a disciplinary hearing and potentially punished.
At the University of Tennessee Knoxville, students are expected to refrain from several actions, including:
- Physically harming someone.
- Discriminating or harassing someone.
- Invading another student, teacher, or staff member's privacy.
- Stealing, misappropriating, or damaging private or public property.
- Possessing or carrying a weapon on campus if it is prohibited by local laws.
- Engaging in lewd or indecent conduct such as public exposure, public urination, or public sexual acts.
- Creating a hazardous condition for no legitimate purpose.
When students are accused of committing one of the above acts and referred for disciplinary action, they will be given the opportunity during a hearing to present a defense. The disciplinary hearing is meant to give students a chance to present evidence and witness testimony that will negate the allegations against them. Unfortunately, many students decide to sort of “wing” these proceedings and do not prepare properly.
Showing up to a disciplinary hearing unprepared is the worst thing you can do. Insufficient defenses very often lead to unnecessary punishments. For instance, if you are accused of physically assaulting another student and asked to defend yourself in a hearing, you must come prepared to tell the entire story. If the hearing panel only hears that you put your hands on the other student, but never hears you explain that you were compelled to push the student after they try tried to force you into a kiss, you could be suspended or dismissed.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Issues
Title IX is a federal statute that requires federally funded schools to follow certain steps when investigating and settling issues of gender-based discrimination. Gender-based discrimination also includes sexual misconduct, which is comprised of sexual harassment and assault, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and stalking. If a student is accused of a Title IX violation, they must act quickly to prepare a defense, including relevant evidence and witnesses, and that will testify to his side of the story. When students fail to prepare for this type of disciplinary hearing, they could be suspended or dismissed even if they were mistakenly reported or purposefully falsely reported by a vindictive individual. Having the expert advice of an attorney advisor is invaluable in situations like this. In fact, it could mean the difference between being expelled and receiving a formal reprimand.
How a Skilled Attorney Advisor Can Help
Most schools are so understaffed or stressed that they rarely take the time to appreciate a student's reasoning for their behavior before imposing strict punishments that have lifelong negative effects. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law firm are skilled attorney advisors who recognize how important these disciplinary proceedings and academic progression meetings are. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
