Jenkins, Esq., Dionne

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education

General Counsel, January 2016 – Present

• Serve as Chief Legal Counsel and advisor to the Board of Education on issues of law, policy,

parliamentary procedure, and compliance

• Investigate and defend federal and state administrative matters involving the US Department of

Education Office of Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the

Employment Security Commission

• Review and approve all district and departmental contracts for the school system

• Manage in-house litigation and serve as liaison to outside counsel in pending litigation matters

• Advise Superintendent, Executive Cabinet and school administrators on issues related to

student discipline, school safety, constitutional law, FERPA, public information and records,

contract law and other matters unique to educational institutions

• Assist the Human Resources Department in personnel investigations of matters involving

harassment, discrimination, and advise the Board in due process proceedings

• Advise the Board during committee and regularly scheduled board meetings

• Draft and revise District policies and administrative regulations, and serve as staff liaison to the

Board Policy Committee

• Serve as District Title IX Coordinator

• Conduct School Law Training series, and other departmental-specific trainings, for the Board

and district staff

• Manage the School Attorney’s Office, which consists of one Staff Attorney and two support

personnel, and manage the organizational and budgeting needs of the office

Staff Attorney, August 2013 – December 2015

• Represent the Superintendent in employee grievance and appeal hearings

• Serve as in-house counsel to administrators and staff in various areas of law, including special

education law, 1st Amendment, privacy rights, and other education law related legislative

updates

• Preside as a neutral Hearing Officer over student disciplinary hearings and assist social workers

in truancy court process

• Assist in the sale and acquisition of property on behalf of the WS/FCS, as well as in retrieval of

forfeited bonds and other monies

• Advise the Board and staff regarding legislative and regulatory updates

Jenkins Law Firm, PLLC, Winston-Salem, NC

Owner/Managing Attorney, March 2011 – August 2013

• Solo practitioner of general law practice in the areas of family law, including child custody, child

support and divorce, criminal law, and general civil litigation

• Represented indigent clients in criminal matters, including misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile

offenses, and criminal contempt proceedings

• Counseled clients and potential clients on their rights and responsibilities under the law, and

any appropriate course of action in their case(s), pursuant to case law and statutes

Eric M. Berman, P.C., Winston-Salem, NC

Managing Attorney, December 2009 – December 2010; Associate Attorney, April 2007 – January

2009

• Managed litigation needs of high-volume, state-wide consumer debt litigation practice

• Conducted trials and argued civil motions in District and Superior Court; conducted arbitration

hearings and mediations in negotiation of settlement agreements

• Submitted briefs and successfully disposed of adversarial appeals to the North Carolina Court of

Appeals

• Negotiated and drafted settlement agreements, legal pleadings, motions and discovery on behalf

of corporate creditors

• Researched and wrote memoranda for various statutory and case precedent to ensure

compliance with state and federal regulations

York, Williams & Lewis, L.L.P., Charlotte, NC

Associate Attorney, January 2009 – December 2009

• Presided over trials, including jury and small claims civil trials

• Argued motions, negotiated insurance settlements, and conducted arbitrations

• Researched and submitted briefs to the North Carolina Court of Appeals

• Presided over depositions, mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and

assisted senior partners in preparation for trial

• Conducted case investigations including interviewing witnesses, law enforcement officials and

other interested parties

• Analyzed and evaluated settlement demands, detailed damage reports, and condensed

voluminous medical reports into concise summaries

• Researched and drafted memoranda on various issues of state and federal law, including

construction law, insurance defense, motor vehicle law, medical and legal malpractice and

contract law

H. Marie Hutto, P.C., Winston-Salem, NC

Associate Attorney, September 2006 – April 2007

• Represented clients in areas of family law, criminal defense, personal injury and general civil

litigation in the District and Superior Courts of Forsyth County

• Served as Guardian Ad Litem in social services proceedings

• Drafted legal pleadings, motions, orders and other legal documentation in preparation for trial

and/or settlement

• Conducted criminal and civil investigations, including interviewing witnesses, compiling

evidence and other discovery methods

EDUCATION

Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, NC

Juris Doctor, May 2006

• NBLSA, President 2005-2006; NBLSA Scholarship Recipient, 2006; NBLSA Thurgood Marshall

Mock Trial Team Member 2006

•Winston-Salem, Domestic Violence Advocacy Center

Wake Forest University, Winston, NC

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, May 2003

• Dean’s List; Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society (Political Science), Mortar Board Member, Omicron

Delta Kappa Honor Society

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, NC

Adjunct Professor, 2014 – 2020

• Teach civil litigation, wills and estates, ethics, business law and legal research and writing to

students in the paralegal training program

• Engaged students in classroom discussion and guided students through hands-on problem-

solving techniques

Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC

Adjunct Professor, 2015, Summer 2021

• Taught basics of business law to undergraduate students

• Taught school law and ethics to graduate students in the Masters Program

• Coordinated weekly assignments and forum discussions applying course materials to current

events

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Professional Associations:

• North Carolina Bar Association, Education Law Section

• North Carolina School Boards Association

o Council Member (2018-Present)

o Frequent presenter for the North Carolina School Boards Association

• National School Boards Association, Council of School Attorneys

• Real Estate Broker

• Notary Public

Community Involvement

• Dress for Success, Board Member (2018- Present)

• Leadership Winston-Salem, Class of 2017

• North Carolina Bar Association Leadership Academy, Spring 2015