Kevin J. Locke
Managing Partner
Cleveland
216.520.0088
klocke@pepple-waggoner.com
vCard
@KLockePW
Kevin Locke has practiced exclusively in the area of public school law since 1990. As a result, he has acquired extensive experience in public sector labor contract negotiations, labor arbitrations, board of education policy preparation, special education, teacher evaluations and non-renewals, reduction-in-force matters, student suspensions, unfair labor practice defense, and general school law representation. Kevin is a frequent presenter at seminars for the Ohio School Boards Association, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, Ohio Association of Local School Superintendents and at numerous other school conferences and seminars. Kevin was a member of the Ohio Council of School Board Attorneys’ Executive Committee for eight years and served as its chairperson in 2016.
When not working, Kevin and his wife Sue like to spend time going to concerts, visiting their daughter in Columbus, and their son in Denver.
Bar Admissions
Ohio
Court Admissions
United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Ohio local and state courts
Professional & Civic Organizations/Activities
Ohio State Bar Association
American Bar Association
Ohio Council of School Board Attorneys
National School Boards Association
Education
J.D., The University of Akron School of Law
B.A., Personnel Management, The University of Akron
Selected Presentations & Published Works
2026
“Strategies for Implementing Effective Employee Layoffs” – BASA 2026 Regional Meetings Administrative Update
“Setting the Bargaining Table: Preparations for Negotiations” – School Negotiations Workshop
“New Board Member Orientation” – Educational Service Center New Board Member Orientation
“Suspensions, Expulsions, Appeals, and Other Student Discipline” – Ohio Association of Local School Superintendents 2026 Conference
2025
“Testing and Discipline of Students and Employees Using Marijuana” – BASA Fall Conference
“Salary Schedules and Creative Compensation Solutions: How Much Flexibility Does the District Have?” – OSBA
“Parents’ Bill of Rights” and “Student, Staff, and Parent Communications” – Employee In-Service
“Avoiding Ethics and Professional Conduct Pitfalls for Administrators and Staff” – Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center Fall Administrative Conference
“Investigating Employee Misconduct and Imposing Discipline” – Administrative In-Service
2024
“2024 and Beyond: Bargaining Salary Increases and SOOO Much More” – School Law Update Seminar
“No Good Deed Goes Unpunished and Other Lessons to be Learned” – BASA Fall Conference
“Investigating Student Misconduct and Imposing Discipline” – Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center Administrative Conference
2023
“Common Errors Made by Administrators When Dealing with Student Discipline” – BASA Regional Meeting
“Your Professional Accountability” – BASA New Superintendent Transition Seminar
“Sealing the Deal: Techniques for Successful Settlement in Negotiations” – School Negotiations Workshop