Mon - Fri: 9:00AM - 5:00PM EST

Sat - Sun: Closed

 

Meet the Team

At School Liability Expert Group, we provide highly individualized, reliable, and prompt service with every consultation. We respond to our clients’ needs personally. The firm grew out of Dr. Dragan’s passion for schools, education, and children. The firm started in 1993 in his living room, and has grown to the point where we occupy a spacious office in historic Lambertville, N.J.

We provide consultation to schools, parents, and attorneys. Attorneys rely on our firm for consultation and expert witness services for high-profile and complicated cases involving schools and education. Schools contact us to learn how to improve their school climate, to eliminate bullying and harassment of students, and to be sure their policies and procedures promote safety. Parents call us for help with reviewing their children’s educational program and to make recommendations for students with disabilities. Parents’ attorneys also contact us to complete school comparisons when the placement of a child in a school becomes a contested issue in a custody matter.

We provide services from case inception through resolution. Determining the merit of a case, conducting file review and analysis, compiling expert reports, and offering testimony at deposition and/or at trial are but a few of the services we provide. Through the experience of its founder and principal consultant, Dr. Dragan, and with the support of a highly competent staff, School Liability Expert Group, provides quality comprehensive services in the areas of school safety and accidents; sexual harassment; bullying; wrongful death; hiring, supervision, and retention of personnel; supervision of students; special education; and determination of the best interests of the child in custody matters.

OUR EXPERTS

John Doherty

John F. Doherty, Ed.D.

Expert

John F. Doherty, Ed.D. is an experienced public and private school educator who has focused his work on improving schools through effective hiring practices, supervision and training of staff, and building a school culture of sustainability. He has over 35 years of experience as a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principal, Assistant Principal, Department Chair, Coach, and Teacher. Dr. Doherty has focused his work as an educator in several areas, including, but not limited to educator evaluation, school safety and security implementation, IDEA, Title IX, bullying and harassment prevention, pandemic education and operations planning, social emotional learning, equity and social justice, and health and wellness in schools. Dr. Doherty has a doctorate in Education Leadership from Seton Hall University, a master’s in Curriculum, Instruction, Supervision and Leadership from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and a bachelor of science in Biological Sciences from the University of Lowell.

Dr. Frank Sheboy

Expert

Dr. Frank Sheboy has dedicated his entire career to the field of public education, working to improve schools through a data-focused approach to teaching and learning. He has worked to address the needs of his school communities through the effective hiring, supervision, and training of faculty and staff through extensive policy work to ensure that appropriate and up-to-date policies and practices are adopted and implemented to foster a supportive, safe, and positive school environment. He has served schools for nearly 34 years as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, coach, and teacher. Dr. Sheboy has served as an appointed member of the New York State Military Interstate Children’s Compact Committee, is a past president of the Mid-Hudson Catskill Council of School Superintendents, and is the President of the Federal Lands Impacted Schools Association.

Edward Dragan

Edward F. Dragan, EdD

Firm Founder & Owner

I have spent more than 40 years in education. At various times in my career, I have been a special-education teacher, served as a public school principal and superintendent, founded an alternative school with a group of disenchanted parents and students, worked as an administrator and teacher in a residential treatment center for children, supervised head start centers, and oversaw reviews of school-level instructional and accountability programs for a large state department of education. I am now a litigation consultant and an expert witness in education. After consulting with an attorney and testifying in court as an expert witness, I decided I would best be able to help schools, children, and families by developing a practice where I could use my experience to review cases involving schools, education, and the supervision of children and provide expert opinions. Shortly after starting Education Management Consulting, LLC, I obtained a law degree with a specialty in education law and have provided consultation on more than 400 cases and testified more than 100 times in courts around the country.

OUR TEAM

Sadika Jubo

Managing Partner

With over 15 years of legal expertise under her belt, Sadika has been an integral part of our firm since 2008. Graduating with honors from Rider University, she earned a dual Bachelor's degree in Political Science and French. Her journey in the legal field began with roles as a personal injury and immigration paralegal, as well as a refugee resettlement case worker. Seeking to broaden her skill set, Sadika pursued and obtained a Master's Degree in Human Resources from Villanova University in 2023, alongside a certificate in Human Resources Leadership. In her current capacity, Sadika assumes responsibility for overseeing all facets of firm management and development. Her strategic leadership guides the firm towards sustained success and continuous growth.

Charlene Becker

Charlene Becker

Firm Operations & Development Manager

Charlene joined the firm in 2017 as a legal assistant after several years as a paralegal for school board attorneys. She graduated from Rutgers University with a dual degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology, along with a Criminology certificate. After gaining experience working as a case manager for adjudicated youth and a cognitive therapist for patients with brain injuries, she later received her Paralegal certification. In her current position as the firm Operations & Development Manager/Accounts Manager, she is responsible for billing, client accounts, handling client calls, legal support, and assists with the overall operation of the firm.

Christina Grube

Christina Grube

Document Review Specialist

Christina joined the firm in November of 2020 and is currently working as a full-time document review specialist. Christina is a Seton Hall University law school graduate and has experience working with local sports organizations as well as working alongside school administrators and teachers on developing an optimal learning environment for students. Christina has several years of experience working as a township parks and recreation board member that included the creation and supervision of childrens' activities and programs. Christina is the founder and former director of an annual community 5k run event that raises money for the local fire department and is a co-founder of iRun4Life which helps schools all over the country establish after-school running clubs for their students.

Peter Graham

Legal Assistant/Paralegal

Peter joined the firm in April 2021 as a full-time legal assistant, bringing with him a wealth of experience garnered over several years in the field as a paralegal. In his present role, he plays a pivotal role in client intake and correspondence, scheduling testimonies, meticulously organizing documents, overseeing project management tasks, and providing essential legal support. Peter's academic background includes graduating from Albright College in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History. Peter further enhanced his credentials in 2019 by obtaining a certification in Paralegal Studies from Bucks County Community College.

I want to thank you for your professional commitment, hard work and valuable time that you invested in this program. Clearly this seminar was a success. (School Violence Issues)

Sara Dalton Lorman Education Services

It was a pleasure working with you, and we look forward to working with you again in producing another great seminar. Congratulations on such a successful seminar!

Mary V. Nietupski, Director Continuing Legal Education Connecticut Bar Association

This was excellent, take this show on the road and educate the masses. “Excellent session on the whole.” “A great seminar!” “An outstanding conference with knowledgeable professionals presenting the material in an understandable manner.” (IDEA, Section 504 and ADA)

Lorman Education Services seminar attendees

We would like to thank you so very much for all that you have done for our daughter and all of us. You were here for us during a very difficult time and we are so thankful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Veil Parents

We just want to thank you again for all your help with our child custody issue. Thank you for the value you provided and for helping us to get past this and on with our lives. You have provided us with a wonderful service. Thanks!

Karen Majoris Sr. Manager LogOPS Process Development Kraft foods North America

Your presentation at The Education Law Association Conference was great! I enjoyed your clear and timely update and found it to be extremely helpful.

Ann Browning Masters, Ph.D., Education Program Coordinator St. Johns River Community College

As a result of Dr. Dragan’s direct management of our special education services all annual reviews and new evaluations were completed on a schedule that was well in advance of what has been the case in past years.

School Superintendent

The objective analysis you offered will assist the district in allocating its resources in the proper manner that will best serve students. To perform this work without your assistance would have been difficult and the Board is grateful for your efforts.

School Business Administrator