Chris Thomas

J.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, co-host of @ChalkandGavel, and author of Reclaiming Democratic Education

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

Hard to believe it's already been two years! True to form, we cover another landmark Supreme Court episode to celebrate. This is a good one! Thank you, everyone, for your continued support and engagement with Chalk & Gavel!

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

Our second anniversary episode! Listen in to Ep. 55, where we talk about one of our favorites, Bethel v. Fraser! What happens when a student gives a sexually suggestive speech at a school assembly? https://t.co/o6yxXeY99A

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

https://t.co/t95fUyE3hV

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

We interviewed Mary Beth Tinker! Such a fantastic conversation with an inspirational advocate for children and their rights! I was nerding out pretty much the entire time... @ChalkandGavel #TinkerTour #Education https://t.co/UYv2BnHWU9

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

Does anyone need 804 pages of expert and timely education law knowledge from over 50 experts in the field? I am so thankful to have been part of this team and to work with such outstanding scholars and leaders! @EdLawAssn #educationlaw https://t.co/s7mtMFletA

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

Spoiler alert: Yes! They should. (Or at least, that's my position. The court, on the other hand...)

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

Should elementary students have free speech rights? That question is at the heart of this week's episode, which we recorded live at the @EdLawAssn annual conference! https://t.co/BEIeTyt5Zr

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

If you’re at @UCEA, come check out our live recording! We promise we won’t mispronounce all of the words. 😁

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

Getting ready for our second ever live show here at @UCEA!

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

For two people who don't know much about sports, @JamieKudlats and I sure do make a lot of bad sports puns.

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

This episode is a double-header! We discuss two cases about when schools can be legally responsible for student injuries during athletic activities. We knocked this one out of the park, but these cases might have you crying foul! https://t.co/0OKbVmzcNZ

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

Ever wondered how placement decisions are made for students with disabilities? Have we got an episode for you! We discuss P. v. Newington Board of Education, a case that deals with the Least Restrictive Environment provision of the IDEA. https://t.co/HC14jYKExi

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

@ezagteach @JamieKudlats @EdLawAssn It was great to see you too!

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

@JeremyTColes It’s hard to hold a candle to the intellectual rigor of our book club!

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

Hosting Chalk & Gavel with @JamieKudlats might be the most fun I've had as a professional! It's hard to believe it's already been a year. Thank you to everyone who has engaged with us and helped sustain us through our first 29 episodes! Here's to many more.

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

Exactly one year ago, we released our first episode of Chalk & Gavel! 29 episodes later, we are so grateful to everyone for listening, sharing their thoughts, and helping us demystify and empower folks within education law. Thank you! Your support truly means the world to us!!

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

My favorite episode yet!

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

To celebrate 1 year of Chalk & Gavel, we decided to cover one of our favorite cases! This is "Bong Hits 4 Jesus", a fascinating and important story about a student's "First Amendment experiment" that got all the way to the Supreme Court!
https://t.co/s8Ewtj93uE

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

The 7th Edition of The Principal's Legal Handbook is available now! https://t.co/LweIJpTolz. It has been a wonderful experience working with such a dedicated team of editors, authors, and others to get this book across the finish line! What a labor of love!

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

It was my turn to get out the soapbox! This is one of those cases where I think the court got it wrong, but it just shows the extent that courts will defer to schools on matters of academics and discipline (particularly when drugs are involved)

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

We had too much fun naming this episode. Listen in as we discuss whether a school can deny a student academic credit after he was expelled for having "marijuana crumbs" in his truck on school property. This is the case of South Gibson v. Sollman. https://t.co/qVgiqhGxlV

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

I’m really proud of this episode! This may be one of the thorniest cases we’ve covered because of the intersection of students rights, teachers rights, and the school’s interests, but I think the school and the court got it right here.

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

When can a school require teachers to use names and pronouns that align with students' gender identity? In this episode, we discuss Kluge v. Brownsburg Community Schools and the clash between transgender students' rights and the rights of teachers. https://t.co/7Nr5Ax3ys6

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

It's time for Christmas in July! This episode features a student's Red Ryder BB gun and how a school responded when it was visible during remote learning. We apologize in advance for the A Christmas Story references, but we triple-dog dare you to listen! https://t.co/H3PWugtxab

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

These students are part of a long, storied tradition of k12 student activism! Students have been protesting at and against their schools for as long as we've had schools.

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

Why is it always the cheer squad? If absolute power corrupts absolutely, what does school spirit do? Join us as we talk about the case of a group of brave and well-informed cheerleaders who protested the draconian behavior of their new coach! https://t.co/QxQXbhXiCL

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

Really excited about this episode! The new Title IX regulations codify into law some really important protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in schools.

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

You're in luck if you haven't read all 1,500 pages of the new Title IX regulations yet! We've got a special Title IX-themed episode! We discuss the new regs and Davis v. Monroe County, a Supreme Court case about student sexual harassment. https://t.co/9NvcjhFXIi

[Chris Thomas @ProfChrisThomas]

Bingo!

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

How many SPED acronyms do you know? It's time to play Episode 17 Bingo! We're joined by Dr. Janet Decker as we wade into the complicated and acronym-filled waters of special education law with the case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District! https://t.co/v2le5eGp5q

[Chalk and Gavel Podcast @ChalkandGavel]

Can a school subject a student to corporal punishment for writing "Trump 2016" on a classroom whiteboard? At least one judge appointed by President Trump said "yes." In this episode, we discuss a student free speech case with renewed relevance in 2024!
https://t.co/LexElX5OLg