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meet our team

MARK WEIKER

Advisor, Decision-Maker & Investigator

Liz Abdnour

Background

Mark is a seasoned education attorney, holding licenses to practice in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. His legal expertise spans the entire spectrum of school law, where he passionately represents students, teachers, faculty, and administrators. Mark’s journey in education law began as day-to-day and defense counsel for traditional public schools, a role he held until 2014 when he co-founded the firm that later became Abdnour Weiker, LLP, shifting his focus to advocate for students and educators. Throughout his career, Mark has demonstrated a commitment to staying at the forefront of education-related issues. He has authored and spoken extensively on a diverse range of topics, including but not limited to Title IX, FERPA, state student privacy laws, high school athletic eligibility, special education rights and responsibilities, IDEA, state operating standards, suspension and expulsion rights for students, college codes of conduct and academic misconduct, public record laws, FMLA, sovereign and qualified immunity, school dress codes, student civil and constitutional rights, and schoolhouse sexual assault.

In addition to his legal practice, Mark extends his dedication to education by serving as a surrogate parent for students with disabilities lacking involved parents and acts as an arbitrator for education-related contract matters. Mark is also a founding collaborator of the Special Education Legal Clinic in Ohio, a service offered to provide no-cost legal information and resources to parents and educators.

Trainings

  • Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid (National Council for Mental Wellbeing)
  • Surrogate Parent Training for Special Education Surrogates (Ohio)
  • Sports Agent License, Ohio Athletic Commission

Education

  • J.D., Capital University Law School
    • Student Bar Association President
    • Order of the Curia
    • Dean’s Award for Public Service
  • B.S., The Ohio State University, 2002

Professional Associations

  • Ohio State Bar Association, Education Law Committee, Member
  • Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
  • Columbus Bar Association, Barrister Leadership Program (2011-2012)
  • Central Ohio Association for Justice, Member
  • Central Ohio Labor and Employment Relations Board, Member
  • Bexley Chamber of Commerce (Board Member 2014-2021; President 2020-2021)
  • Franklinton Farms, Board of Directors and Vice President (2016-2019)
  • Web Wise Seniors, Inc., Board of Directors (2004-2010)
  • Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Beta Phi Chapter, House Corporation Member
  • InspirEducation, Board of Directors (2021-2023)

Speaking Engagements

Mark has been a speaker on numerous legal topics for various groups and associations. His engagements include:

    • Title IX Coordinator Training for k12 Coordinators, Title IX Solutions, Rifle, Colorado (November 2023)
    • A Slightly Different [Student] Perspective, Ohio School Resource Officers Association, Advanced Training Course (November 2023)
    • Title IX for k12 Schools, A Partnership for Change, Title IX Solutions, New Jersey (November 2023)
    • Title IX Basics for Student Rights Attorneys, AW Student Rights Conference (June 2023)
    • What HS Students Need to Understand About the School Environment, Student Leadership Summit(s), We Thrive Together (October-November 2023)
    • Does Ohio’s EdChoice Voucher System Put Public Education at Risk?, JUSTUS Podcast (July 2023)
    • Parents Seek Advocates as Schools See Uptick in Individualized Education Plans (Henry, Cols Dispatch, 2023)
    • The Experiment of Charter Schools, JUSTUS Podcast (June 2023)
    • Transgender Issues in k12 Education, OASSA Legal Update (2022)
    • Court Outcomes in School Mask Lawsuits, CBA Legal Connections, Columbus Business First (February 2022)
    • Back-to-School 2020 Raised Some Fascinating Legal Questions, CBA Legal Connections, Columbus Business First (September 2020)
    • Parents of Special Education Students Battling Regression During Pandemic (Video; ABC6 Columbus, 2020)
    • K-12 Students: 3 Things to Do if You Are Suspended or Expelled (2020)
    • OSU Requires Speedy Reporting of Domestic Violence Charges (Dayton Daily News, August 2018)
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