As a professional educator, Chip Fair has experience in the general education setting as well as the special education setting; his special education teaching experience includes resource, inclusion, and gifted classrooms.  He has worked for the Tennessee Department of Education/Division of Special Education as a compliance consultant and has extensive knowledge of the dispute resolution process under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).

Currently, Chip is a special education staff development/IDEA Compliance specialist for a school system in Tennessee.  He developed and presents a multi-faceted training program for the system’s special education paraeducators (classroom educational assistants) as well as staff development opportunities for educators and administrators on a variety of topics.

He presents at state conferences, for local education agencies, and has been a frequent presenter at the LRP National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities.  He has also presented audio-conferences for LRP.

Chip is a past member, and served as the Chair, of Tennessee’s Governor’s Advisory Council for the Education of Students with Disabilities, and was the legislative committee chairman for the Tennessee Association for Administrators in Special Education (TAASE).

In addition to being available as a presenter and trainer for school systems, and a trainer/advocate for parents of children with special needs, Chip is available to provide mediation services for family, general, business, and employment issues.

Chip is a Tennessee Supreme Court listed Rule 31 Family/Civil mediator specially trained in Domestic Violence.  He has also received training in mediation skills for the workplace from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Institute for Conflict Management.

If you are a school system; you know that, even on a good day, special education is complicated. Chip has the unique knowledge and ability to equip your personnel to be more effective.

If you are a parent, you may need someone who can help you find your voice, and help you navigate the confusing world of special education.

If you are an individual or a business experiencing unresolved conflict, or are a couple going through a divorce, mediation may be the solution to reach a mutually beneficial outcome. Chip has extensive training, and maintains an ongoing training regimen in order to be an effective facilitator and mediator.

If you are an attorney, you know that special education law and regulations are not taught in law school.  More and more parents are seeking attorneys to help them navigate the maze that is special education dispute resolution.

Chip has the unique experience and specialized knowledge to be able to help attorneys learn more about special education law and alternative dispute resolution under the IDEA.

School systems, educators, administrators, individuals, businesses, attorneys, are all faced with conflict everyday.  The resolution of this conflict may depend on your ability to agree; let Chip help you increase your Agreeability.