Mary Catherine (Funk) Tuckwiller

Mary Catherine (Funk) Tuckwiller

Of Counsel

Biography

MC, a former teacher, dedicates her practice to education law. She advises board of education clients on employee discipline, both before and during the grievance process. MC provides guidance and training on special education issues, particularly IEP drafting and compliance, compensatory services, and meeting FAPE requirements. She assists counties in managing and complying with FOIA requests and the Open Meetings Act. MC drafts policies and supports CEFP management, facilitating the closure and consolidation process. She guides clients through OCR and Title IX investigations and is versed in ADA compliance.

Prior to rejoining Dinsmore, MC spent seven years as counsel to the West Virginia Board of Education and West Virginia Department of Education, which is experience she leverages to meet her clients’ needs. Among her responsibilities, she managed the state superintendent’s licensure proceedings, conducted all facets of personnel management for state managed education entities, and wrote many of the policies that govern county processes and practices. She not only understands legal implications but also the nuances of the state funding formula and its effect on decision making in hiring and facilities matters. MC was a member of the WVDE data governance team and understands the intricacies of FERPA.

Education

  • West Virginia University College of Law  (J.D., cum laude, 2011)
    • College of Law Ethics Council, chair
    • Deans Fellow, Civil Procedure
    • CALI Awards for Academic Excellence: Pretrial Litigation, Gender and the Law
  • Roanoke College  (B.A., 2004)

Bar Admissions

  • West Virginia
  • Virginia

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • Supreme Court of Virginia

Affiliations/Memberships

  • West Virginia State Bar
  • Virginia State Bar
  • National Council of State Education Attorneys (NCOSEA)
  • Council of School Attorneys (COSA)
  • Kanawha County Library Foundation Board of Directors
  • Greenbrier Community School Board of Trustees
  • Leadership Kanawha Valley Class of 2014
  • Communities in Schools of Greenbrier County Board of Directors

Distinctions

  • Generation Next 40 Under 40 award by The State Journal (2017)