Meet Our Founder

Jessika Kleen is the founder of Kleen Education Law, where she represents public school districts, charter schools, and private educational institutions in complex legal and governance matters in New Jersey, and advises educational organizations nationwide in a consultative capacity.

Her practice spans education law, board governance, and personnel matters, with extensive experience handling contested matters, administrative proceedings, and complex or sensitive legal issues affecting school operations—particularly where legal strategy and institutional decision-making intersect.  She is frequently retained in matters involving complex procedural issues and high-conflict situations, where strategic decision-making and careful record development are critical.

Jessika has successfully represented clients in mediations, administrative proceedings, and state and federal court, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in matters involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), student discipline, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) complaints, and a wide range of employment and governance-related disputes.

Outside the courtroom, she serves as counsel to boards of education and school leadership on policy development, Open Public Meetings Act compliance, collective bargaining, and day-to-day operational issues.  She is known for a direct and pragmatic approach, providing candid advice, anticipating likely outcomes, and helping clients navigate multiple strategic paths forward with a clear understanding of the needs of the district as a whole.

Jessika is also frequently engaged by school districts and educational organizations across the country to conduct audits, advise on program development, and provide professional development to administrators, board members, and staff.  She is a regular presenter for continuing legal education (CLE) providers and professional organizations.

She has presented on education law and policy at international conferences, including in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Athens, Greece, where she was recognized with an Emerging Scholar award.  She is also a co-author of publications on developing in-district IEP programs and legal issues related to IDEA and joint custody.

Her commitment to education law is informed by her own experiences navigating the foster care system as a child, where school provided consistency and stability when nothing else did.  That experience continues to shape her perspective on the role of public education and informs her work with schools and communities.

Jessika earned her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law–Newark, where she represented low-income students through the Special Education Clinic.   She is admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.