The Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys recently elected officers for the 2026-27 membership year.

Leslie Allen of Resolutions in Special Education Inc., or RISE, was elected president, and Alicia Bennett of Hill Hill Carter was elected vice president. Members selected Allen and Bennett during the ACSBA Summer Conference held June 19-20 in Gulf Shores.

Allen, a Birmingham native, is a partner at RISE, where she represents public school systems in matters involving special education and educational programs for students with disabilities.

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama and earned her law degree cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. Mid-South Super Lawyers has recognized Allen in schools and education law each year since 2021. She also serves on the United Ability board of directors.

Bennett, who was born and raised in Fairfield, is a shareholder with Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black and works in the firm’s Birmingham office.

She serves as general and special counsel to several school boards, providing guidance, training and litigation representation on employment and student matters. Her work includes cases involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, due process and the First Amendment.

Bennett is a former president of the Shelby County Bar Association and a former vice president of the Alabama State Bar. She also served for several years as a state bar disciplinary hearing officer.

ACSBA also elected a new board of directors. Members include Cortlin Bond of Bradley in Birmingham, Tina Hammonds of the Alabama State Department of Education in Montgomery, Taylor Pecci of Adams & Reese in Mobile, Zachary Roberson of Bishop Brooks in Huntsville and Claire Smelser of Ryan Law in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama Association of School Boards Executive Director Chad Holden serves as ACSBA secretary-treasurer, and AASB Legal Services Officer Angel Moreno serves as the organization’s liaison to ACSBA.

Conference topics included “ALSDE Certification and Administrative Cases,” presented by John Phillips and James Ward; “Alabama Trust for Boards of Education: History & Current Coverages,” presented by Lucy Hester Sellers; “Discipline and Dangerous Students with Disabilities: What Are the Options?” presented by Allen; and “Title IX in Practice,” presented by Dana Hill.