Natasha Felder, Esquire, is a distinguished attorney with extensive experience in special education law,
juvenile and criminal defense, and youth advocacy. Currently serving as an Assistant General Counsel for
the School District of Philadelphia’s Special Education/School Law Unit, Natasha advises schools and
administrative offices on the federal and state requirements related to the identification, evaluation, and
support of students with disabilities. She also represents the School District in special education due
process matters before the Office for Dispute Resolution and at meetings to establish students’
Individualized Education Programs.
Previously, Natasha held impactful roles in legal and advocacy organizations. She served as a Staff
Attorney with the Defender Association of Philadelphia where she represented clients in both adult and
juvenile courts. Her work as a Stoneleigh Foundation Emerging Leader Fellow with the Youth Sentencing
& Reentry Project led to the creation of a toolkit for improving representation for girls in the justice
system.
Before practicing law, Natasha worked extensively with youth identified with disabilities requiring
specialized instruction in residential programs and community settings across Philadelphia and
surrounding counties. As an Applied Behavior Analyst at Elwyn and a Residential Counselor at Devereux,
she supported the implementation of education and treatment plans, often serving as a 1:1 assistant—a
role considered a related service in special education programming. Natasha also leveraged data and
goals from Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to secure appropriate community-based
programming for youth as a Reintegration Worker and later as a Juvenile Probation Officer.
Committed to community and professional service, Natasha is currently the Vice President of
Administration for the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, Inc., having served on its executive board
from 2023 to 2024. An active member of the Pennsylvania Bar, Natasha’s career is driven by her passion
for advocacy, equity, and empowering underserved youth. From 2021 to 2024, Natasha served on the
board of directors for Rock to the Future, a Philadelphia nonprofit providing music education and
mentorship to youth in underserved communities. During her tenure, she served as Recording Secretary
and Co-Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee.
A lifelong Philadelphian, Natasha holds a Juris Doctor from Villanova University Charles Widger School of
Law, where she was awarded the Faculty Recognition Award and the Joseph R. Wenk Civil Justice Clinic
Award. She earned a Master of Science in Criminology from Saint Joseph’s University, magna cum laude,
and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Pre-Law from Lincoln University, summa cum laude.
