School leaders juggle wide-ranging responsibilities under close oversight. A single complaint or compliance issue can put your license and reputation at risk. In those moments, experienced legal counsel matters.
At Bertolino LLP, we know what’s at stake. Our Texas principal license defense lawyers bring over 20 years of experience helping educators address board investigations with clarity, strategy, and strength. We represent principals, superintendents, and administrators across the state.
You deserve a Texas professional license defense lawyer who sees the whole picture, not just the complaint. We fight to preserve your record, your career, and everything you’ve built in education.
Common Reasons Texas School Principals Face License Investigations
The Texas Education Agency holds principals and other Teaching certificate holders to high standards. You’re expected to manage campuses, supervise staff, enforce policies, and respond to complaints, all while following strict rules about student privacy, staff conduct, and reporting procedures.
Even a single allegation, regardless of merit, can result in lasting professional consequences. The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) may investigate your actions and recommend public discipline, even if the underlying issue stems from staff behavior, not your own.
Common reasons for principal investigations include:
- Failing to report suspected abuse or misconduct
- Inadequate discipline procedures or documentation
- Conflict with parents or staff that escalates
- Claims of discrimination or retaliation
- Test administration violations
- Mismanagement of school funds or resources
While not every investigation leads to discipline, all carry reputational and professional risks. The way you submit, from documentation to tone, can significantly affect the outcome.
What Happens When SBEC Opens a Case
The investigation process usually starts with a written notice from the Texas Education Agency. This letter outlines the complaint and asks for your written response. You may also be asked to submit documents, answer questions, or attend an informal settlement conference meeting.
If SBEC identifies potential violations, it may recommend formal disciplinary measures, including inscribed reprimand, non-inscribed reprimand, suspension, or certificate revocation. These disciplinary records become part of your permanent file and may show up in future job searches, board certifications, and even outside investigations.
Our attorneys help you respond to SBEC from day one. We draft your response, organize your documents, and make sure your version of events is clearly and professionally presented. Strategic, well-documented advocacy at this stage can shift the course of the investigation and protect your career trajectory.
How to Defend Your License During an Investigation
SBEC and TEA investigators look beyond what happened; they look at how you handled it. Documentation, timelines, and compliance with school policies all come under review. That’s why legal guidance matters from the beginning.
We help principals:
- Draft professional, persuasive responses.
- Review and organize supporting documents.
- Prepare for interviews and informal hearings.
- Reply to proposed orders or sanctions.
- Defend their license, employment, and reputation.
If you’ve already received a proposed sanction, don’t give up. You have the right to request a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). A skilled defense attorney can help you challenge the findings and reduce or eliminate penalties.
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Why Even Small Mistakes Raise Big Flags
As a school campus leader, you’re held accountable not only for your own actions but often for the actions of others. If a teacher violates policy, investigators may ask whether you enforced proper training, supervision, and discipline.
Even when the underlying complaint doesn’t involve you directly, the Board may still examine your leadership decisions. While these reviews may feel intrusive or misdirected, they carry significant regulatory and reputational consequences.
A Texas principal license defense attorney can help shift the focus back to facts. We highlight your procedures, support your decisions, and correct the record where the investigation got it wrong. This process not only determines the current outcome, but it also influences how licensing bodies, employers, and professional associations view your qualifications moving forward.
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What If You’ve Already Faced Discipline?
A prior sanction doesn’t have to define your career, but it may raise concerns during license renewal, employment applications, or future board investigations. How you respond matters, and preparation makes a difference.
We help school administrators correct or clarify board records, draft statements that reflect growth, and show how continuing education has strengthened their practice. With the right support, you can shift the focus from past mistakes to long-term viability.
Your license is more than paperwork. It reflects decades of earned trust, leadership, and public service. We’re here to help you protect it and keep moving forward.
When to Call a Texas Principal License Defense Lawyer
Some principals wait until things get serious before reaching out. However, early legal involvement often leads to better results. If you’ve received a complaint, notice of investigation, or proposed sanction, contact a lawyer before you respond.
You should also speak with a Texas professional license defense lawyer if:
- A staff member’s misconduct triggered questions about your leadership
- A parent or teacher accused you of retaliation, harassment, or unprofessional conduct
- TEA investigators requested documents or interviews
- You were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation
- You want to challenge a public reprimand or suspension
You’ve worked too hard to leave your path forward up to chance.
Why School Principals Across Texas Trust Bertolino LLP
At Bertolino LLP, we protect the licenses of professionals who make a difference, including the principals who shape schools across Texas. We’ve stood by countless educators through high-stakes investigations, helping them keep their licenses and restore their reputations when everything felt uncertain.
We don’t rely on templated responses or generic legal guidance. We engage directly, ask the right questions, and craft legal strategies that reflect your role, your responsibilities, and what’s truly at stake. With over 20 years of focused experience in license defense, we know how to challenge board findings and stand up to SBEC and TEA.
If you’re facing scrutiny over your role, your actions, or a decision you made as a school leader, call us. Our Texas principal license defense lawyers will walk you through every step and fight to protect your record, your job, and your ongoing ability to practice. Reach out to our Client Success Liaison today to schedule your free consultation.
Call or text (512) 476-5757 or complete a Case Evaluation form
