Joan Heishman Proper
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Joan Heishman Proper represents clients in education and Guardianship and Conservatorship matters.
Ms. Proper’s education practice is focused on special education and general education matters in the public school system (preschool through high school) including bullying issues, student discipline, student behavior, student attendance, IEP and 504 issues, and other matters.
Although Ms. Proper has almost eighteen years of family law practice, she is focusing on education and guardianship and conservatorship matters. She is no longer taking new family law cases.
Prior to law school, Ms. Proper was a teacher for nine years, first in the Diocese of Arlington and then in Fairfax County Public Schools. While she was a general education teacher, she taught students with a wide variety of special education needs.
In addition to her other areas of practice, Ms. Proper is also certified as a Guardian ad litem for children and incapacitated adults in guardianship, conservatorship and family law matters.
Areas Of Practice
- Special Education Law in the public school system (Infant and Toddler through High School)
- Education Law matters in the public school system (PK-12)
- Student Discipline in the public school system (PK-12)
- Guardianship & Conservatorship
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 2007
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2009
Education
- George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia
- J.D. - 2007
- Honors: cum laude
- University of Virginia
- M.Ed. - 2002
- Major: School Administration and Supervision
- Virginia Tech
- B.A. - 1994
- Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences
Classes/Seminars
- What Families Need to Know About the Discipline Process, Formed Families Forward, 2026
- School Law: Key Laws to Know and Evaluation and Identification of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder; National Business Institute; 2023
- Special Education Considerations in Custody Cases, Alexandria Bar Association CLE, 2021
- Meaningfully Advocating for Special Education Needs, Prince William Foster Parent Training, 2020
- Advocacy for Special Education Needs, The Child Protection Partnership, Prince William Area, 2019
- 504 Plan Eligibility & Accommodations; and Bullying and Harassment: Ensuring Special Needs Students Receive FAPE, National Business Institute, 2019
- Discipline and Expulsion, A Practical Legal Guide, National Business Institute, 2019
- How the 504 Plan Process Works and 504 Plan Eligibility, National Business Institute, 2018
- A Survey of the Issues in Education Law that all Attorneys Need to Know, Virginia CLE, 2017
- The ABC's of IEPs, Arc of Loudoun, 2016
- The ABC's of IEPs, Arc of Prince William, 2015
- Guardianship, Conservatorship and Less Restrictive Alternatives, Arc of Loudoun, 2014 and 2016
- FAPE: Evaluations and Eligibility, National Business Institute, 2014 and 2015
- Ethics in Special Education Law, National Business Institute, 2012
Honors And Awards
- Virginia Super Lawyers, 2020-2025
- Arlington Magazine, Top Attorneys, 2019-2025
- Virginia Business Magazine, Legal Elite, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2023-2025
- Northern Virginia Magazine, Top Lawyer, 2015
Professional Associations And Memberships
- Virginia State Bar, Member
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- Virginia Women Attorneys Association, Member
- Fairfax Bar Association, Member
- Prince William County Bar Association, Member
- Commission on the Needs of Children, The Virginia Bar Association, Member, 2020 to Present
Past Employment Positions
- William B. Reichhardt & Associates, Associate
- William B. Reichhardt & Associates , Law Clerk
- Fairfax County Public Schools, Teacher
- Diocese of Arlington, Teacher
Pro Bono Activities
- Arc of Greater Prince William, Volunteer
- Prince William Bar, So You're 18 Program
- Arc of Loudoun, Volunteer
- Wills for Heroes Program - Culpeper