Allen L. Kropp

Attorney

Allen L. Kropp

Attorney

Phone: 207.771.9245 Fax: 207.772.3627 Email: akropp@dwmlaw.com

84 Marginal Way, Suite 600 Portland, ME 04101-2480

Assistant: Gabrielle Barber Email: gbarber@dwmlaw.com

About

Allen Kropp leads the firm’s Higher Education practice group and specializes in civil rights, disability, and school law.  He works extensively with postsecondary institutions and K-12 schools on a wide range of civil rights matters, including sex and gender-based discrimination issues under Title IX, disability issues under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and race/color/national origin matters under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.  He provides a variety of services to clients across the education spectrum – on a host of discrimination issues – including policy development; audits of civil rights compliance; trainings; mediations; and notably, university and school investigations.  Allen is a seasoned investigator with extensive experience in investigating and resolving the most sensitive and complex grievances and disputes involving students, employees, administrators, and school or company officials.   Allen is also an engaging trainer who frequently presents on civil rights and other topics, and he is frequently sought for speaking engagements before schools, colleges and in many other forums.

Building on his lengthy career in management roles, Allen is a Certified Workplace Mediator who assists employers in resolving workplace conflicts that interfere with agency or employer productivity.   He often coaches organizational leaders in management and leadership strategies and provides training to employees on workplace communication and conduct issues.  Organizations who need their employees to resolve their differences, and work productively with one another, regularly call upon Allen to mediate and impartially resolve challenging workplace disputes.

Prior to Drummond Woodsum, Allen held several roles with the United States Department of Education (DOE), including Deputy Chief Attorney and Interim Director of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Regional Office in Boston.  As such, he has a unique and varied expertise in civil rights compliance, program administration, and educating schools, colleges, students, parents, and other stakeholders on civil rights matters. Allen also served as a senior policy advisor and Regional Commissioner for the Rehabilitation Services Administration, DOE’s chief official responsible for federal monitoring and oversight of State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and adult disability programs across New England.

Allen enjoys spending time with his wife and three grown children, hiking, boating, and attending athletic events and theater productions. Dedicated to giving back to the disability community, Allen was appointed by the Governor to serve on the State Rehabilitation Council for the Maine Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

 

Education

George Washington University, J.D., 1993

Bates College, B.S., 1987

Oxford University, Exeter College, 1986

Community/Public Service

State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired
(Governor Appointed)

Publications

Editor, 504 Management System (3rd ed. 2019).

Representative Clients & Matters

  • Resolved over thirty OCR complaint investigations and systemic compliance reviews regarding claims of racial, disability or sex-based discrimination.
  • Investigated complicated sexual harassment complaints for client organizations, and developed sound and effective strategies for ensuring safety and school compliance.
  • Served as an interim Title IX Coordinator and resolved harassment allegations among faculty and other parties at prominent colleges.

Past Presentations

From November 1, 2023 12:00 pm

504 & Your School: Everything You Need to Know! – ZOOM Edition

From November 4, 2021 12:00 pm

504 & Your School: Everything You Need to Know! Back by Popular Demand!

From September 23, 2020 9:00 am

The New Era of Title IX

From September 9, 2020 12:00 pm

All Hands on Deck: Dealing with Employment Issues in a Pandemic

From August 26, 2020 9:00 am

The New Era of Title IX

From June 10, 2020 12:00 pm

Webinar for NH Schools on U.S. DOE Final Title IX Regulations

From June 10, 2020 8:30 am

HR in the Time of COVID-19

From June 2, 2020 12:00 pm

Complimentary Webinar on U.S. DOE Title IX Regulations

From April 10, 2020 12:00 pm

Back By Popular Demand! Section 504: A Deep Dive (NH)

From March 13, 2020 12:00 pm

Back By Popular Demand! Section 504: A Deep Dive

From March 11, 2020 9:00 am

Assessing and Resolving Workplace Conflict and Allegations

From November 5, 2019 12:00 pm

504 & Your School: Everything You Need to Know!

From September 11, 2019 12:00 pm

The Levee Breaks: New Laws Flood Employers

From June 5, 2019 8:00 am

Hiring the Best Seamlessly and Without Incident: Attracting the Right Applicants, Interviewing, Onboarding, and I-9s

From May 21, 2019 12:00 pm

Section 504: A Deep Dive!

From April 12, 2019 9:00 am

504 Conference (Freeport)

From April 5, 2019 9:00 am

504 Conference (Bangor)

From March 15, 2019 9:00 am

Affirmative Action Conference – Freeport

From March 13, 2019 12:00 pm

Affirmative Action Conference – Bangor

From December 13, 2018 9:00 am

Complimentary Lunch & Learn with Drummond Woodsum’s Higher Education Group

From September 7, 2018 9:00 am

Guarding the Gates: Keeping Your Schools Safe from Violence and Harassment

From June 6, 2018 8:00 am

Violence in the Workplace: Handling Threats, Identifying Risks, and Recommended Policies

From February 8, 2018 9:00 am

Students Who Pose a Threat of Self-Harm: What Can Institutions Do?

From January 11, 2018 10:00 am

Academic Integrity More Than Just Plagiarism: Hot Topics and Emerging Issues

From March 27, 2017 12:00 am

Sexual Harassment in Schools: Legal Overview and Best Practices