Mary Gannon

Mary Gannon
Home
4705 Beaver Crest Drive
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 274-1014
mtccgannon@gmail.com
Work
Iowa Association of School Boards
700 2nd Ave., Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50309-1731
(515) 288-1991
mgannon@ia-sb.org
Experience 6/91-Present Iowa Association of School Boards Des Moines, IA
Attorney
Advise school districts on legal and policy issues and lobby state and federal
policymakers. Responsible for maintaining policy services; assisting school boards in
drafting, reviewing and analyzing school board policy; preparing school district
manuals and publications; and researching, writing and making presentations on current
legal issues affecting school districts. Responsible for ensuring state and federal
policymakers implement IASB’s legislative agenda. Coordinator of the Iowa Council
of School Board Attorneys, the IASB Safety Group Insurance Pool and the IASB Legal
Service Fund.
Fall 1992-Spring 1993 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
Instructor
Course: Legal Research and Writing
Fall 1985 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
Instructor
Course: State and Local Government
3/89-5/91 University of Iowa College of Law Iowa City, IA
Research Assistant to Assistant Dean Thomas Senneff
Responsible for developing a continuing legal education program on the Iowa Code of
Professional Responsibility for Lawyers and a continuing legal education program on
the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.
5/90-9/90 Baker & Daniels Indianapolis, IN
Summer Associate
Responsible for researching and writing legal memoranda and briefs. Areas of the law
included public finance, securities, negligence, ERISA, tax exempt organizations,
environmental law, employment law and general corporate litigation.
10/83-8/88 Iowa Senate Democratic Caucus Des Moines, IA
Research Analyst
Responsible for developing, drafting, monitoring and interpreting legislative issues and
state policy. Experience included writing newsletters for distribution to senators, public,
lobbyists and press; writing speeches for senators; writing press releases; constituent
work; and informing the caucus as to the status of legislative policy areas.
5/82-11/82 Roxanne Conlin for Governor Des Moines, IA
Intern
Responsible for scheduling for Ms. Conlin. Experience included coordinating
volunteers for campaign projects; working with the press, interest groups and
volunteers; and planning campaign functions.

8/81-5/82 University of Wyoming Political Laramie, WY
Science Department
Graduate Assistant
Responsible for assisting a political science professor in teaching an introductory level
American government course. Duties include writing and leading weekly discussion
groups; and drafting, administering and correcting tests and papers.
Bar Admission Iowa Bar, June 1991
Education May 1991 University of Iowa College of Law Iowa City, IA
J.D. with Distinction
May 1983 Drake University Des Moines, IA
Masters Degree in Public Administration
Emphasis in Public Finance
8/81-5/92 University of Wyoming Laramie, WY
One year of graduate study in Public Administration
May 1991 University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Minors in Criminology and Spanish
Writing Experience
IASB Procedures Manuals – "Open Meetings and Public Records Law"; Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and Its Impact on Students”; “Restructuring Resources”;
"Student Issues".
Author, Comment, "The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Its Effect Upon
Employment Law," Journal of Corporation Law, Volume 16:2.
Author, "Automobile Manufacturer's Duty to Warn of Common Hazards," Federation
of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Summer 1990.
Public Speaking
Experience
Activities
Numerous presentations at Iowa State Bar Association conferences, education related
organizations' workshops and professional development seminars. Topics include
student records, Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1974, Family and Medical Leave Act, Open Meetings and Public Records, legal
ethics, student conduct and other general legal issues.
Member, Iowa State Bar Association; Member, Iowa Safe Schools Task Force Board
and Executive Committee Member; Chair, Local Government Innovation Commission;
Former President and Member, Holy Trinity Board of Education; former Chair, Iowa
State Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division Professional Development Committee
and Persons with Disabilities Committee; Phi Delta Phi; Phi Sigma Alpha Political
Science Honorary. Associate Editor, Journal of Corporation Law; Member, Iowa
Student Bar Association Executive Council. Member, GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools
Task Force and Executive Committee and member of Education and Public Policy
subcommittees working to get information to educators and public policy makers.