FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2012

Contact:
Brett Schaeffer
bschaeffer@elc-pa.org
215-238-6970 ext. 334

Law Center Names New Director

Rhonda Brownstein poised to continue Education Law Center’s legacy of ensuring all Pennsylvania’s students having access to quality public schools

The Education Law Center Board of Directors named attorney Rhonda Brownstein new executive director of the statewide, non-profit law center. She will begin on June 4, 2012.

Ms. Brownstein is a visionary leader with extraordinary experience. She led the nationally respected Southern Poverty Law Center’s legal program through the development and implementation of major strategic and operational changes.

Under her leadership, the legal department expanded from five attorneys in Alabama to 25 in five states spread over the Deep South. She was lead and co-counsel in many complex class action federal and state lawsuits on behalf of public school students, children in the criminal justice system, and other at-risk populations. Most of the cases she litigated in her 25 years of practicing law were strategically designed to have the broadest impact.

“I look forward to joining the talented staff at ELC and being part of an organization whose work I have respected for many years,” said Brownstein. “I was fortunate to have collaborated with ELC when I was at the Southern Poverty Law Center, so I know firsthand the high quality of their work. I share their passion for ensuring that all students have access to good public schools.”

Ms. Brownstein grew up in Philadelphia where she attended local public schools, graduating from Northeast High School. She spent time in Pittsburgh as a legal services attorney before taking her position at the Southern Poverty law Center. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and received her Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law.

“The Board is confident that Ms. Brownstein will continue ELC’s long history of providing quality legal services, with a passionate commitment to public education,” said Board Chairperson Gail Danckert.

“With appreciation to Len Rieser for his unwavering integrity, quiet persistence and outspoken voice for children educationally at risk and to Janet Stotland, the previous Executive Director, who led ELC for more than 30 years with an irrepressible commitment to children, the Board is pleased to welcome Ms. Brownstein to continue ELC’s high-quality work with a sound commitment to public education," Danckert said.

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