Stock and Leader is pleased to announce that Partner Brooke E.D. Say, Esquire has been named an honoree of the 2020 Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence awards, an event held virtually on June 22, 2020.
Managing Partner, Ronald L. Hershner declares, “Brooke is a leading partner at Stock and Leader. She has developed a statewide reputation as one of the top school/education attorneys in Pennsylvania and is a recognized leader in the central Pennsylvania community. Brooke exemplifies the core values of our firm as not only an excellent attorney but also a generous, caring supporter of causes that improve our world.”
Brooke was selected by judges for her leadership and achievements within Stock and Leader and the field of School and Special Education law and her contributions to the community.
Brooke is the youngest and first female appointed as Chair of the Stock and Leader School Law practice group, a position she has held for the past five (5) years. In her specialty, Brooke leads efforts for school districts to more proactively meet their legal obligations in special education and advocates for strategic “relational” intelligence in managing conflict with parents of special education students. Nine (9) years ago, as an associate, Brooke recognized the need for specialized training tailored specifically for special education leaders. With an aim of decreasing litigation against school districts, she pioneered an Annual Special Education Update, a series aimed at informing special education professionals of the latest topics in Special Education Law. Increasingly recognized across the Commonwealth, Brooke presents to educators and fellow attorneys at the local and national level in school and special education law. Most recently, she spearheaded the School Group’s three (3) month virtual support of school districts navigating remote education in COVID-19 school closures.
Brooke’s passion for leadership also extends within Stock and Leader as she mentors several female associates to fill vital roles within the firm and in their personal endeavors.
In 2014, the Central Penn Business Journal named Brooke one of Central Pennsylvania’s Forty Under 40 business people. In 2015, The Legal Intelligencer named her one of Pennsylvania’s Lawyers on the Fast Track. Ms. Say has been selected by her peers and Law and Politics magazine to the Pennsylvania Rising Star list for the last nine (9) consecutive years, an annual award bestowed to only 2.5% of all Pennsylvania attorneys considered in the selection process.
An active member of her community, Brooke lends her time and expertise to organizations including the Logos Academy, where she served as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for six years, and currently serves as Chair of one of their capital campaign committees and as a Board Member. She also serves on the Messiah College President’s Leadership Council. Recently, Brooke accepted an appointment to the Community Action for Recovery and Diversion Council (CARD), whose mission is a cultural shift in coordinating public health and criminal justice systems to promote community safety, justice, health, and growth within the York community. Brooke is a director of the Central Manor Campmeeting Association and annually devotes a week of her summer vacation to serve as a recreation director, volunteer, and chicken bar-b-q coordinator for the camp, which she has attended since she was 1 month old. As the “fun” aunt, she is committed to maintaining this 150-year old tradition for her nephew and niece.