Kimberly S. Croyle

Kim represents boards of education throughout West Virginia, advising them on the legal questions that arise in operating public schools. Her education law practice spans policy development, in-service training for faculty and staff, and guidance to school boards and administrators on bullying and harassment, special education under the IDEA, Section 504 accommodations and general school law. She also advises on personnel matters and issues involving Title IX, FERPA, Title VII and the ADA, as well as Office for Civil Rights investigations and reviews.

When disputes or proceedings arise, Kim appears for her clients before the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board, in due process hearings and mediations, in state and federal courts, and before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. On behalf of local boards of education, she regularly interacts with the West Virginia State Department of Education and federal agencies, including the Office for Civil Rights and the EEOC. This work complements her day-to-day counsel to boards and administrators as they navigate the laws and regulations governing schools.

Kim has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Education Law from 2013 to the present and was named its Education Law Lawyer of the Year for the northern West Virginia region in 2013 and 2015. She was named to the 2021 class of West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellows. Her commentary on harassment and bullying has been sought by the National Law Journal and The Washington Post. She has also been published by the American Association of School Administrators, Leadership Insider: Practical Perspectives on School Law & Policy and the National School Boards Association, and frequently contributes insight to Special Ed Connection on issues involving the education of children with special needs.

In Morgantown, Kim is actively involved with Bowles Rice Partner in Education – Eastwood Elementary School.

• J.D., West Virginia University College of Law (1992)
• B.A., West Virginia University (1989)

• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
• U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

• Group Leader, Bowles Rice Education Law Group
• Former Bowles Rice Department Chair
• Former Bowles Rice Executive Committee Member
• Former Bowles Rice Human Resources Committee Chair
• Former Bowles Rice Recruiting Chair
• Trained facilitator

• Ragione v. The Board of Education of Preston County, 2018 WL 300576 (2018) (litigating unappealed employee grievance)
• Terra Firma Co. v. Morgan, 223 W. Va. 329, 674 S.E.2d 190 (2008) (Represented Terra Firma Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Consol Energy, Inc., in litigation involving principal/agency relationships and real property transactions.)

• City of Benwood v. Bd. of Educ., 212 W. Va. 436, 573 S.E.2d 347 (2002) (Represented the Board of Education of the County of Marshall in litigation involving the contested closure and consolidation of schools.)

• Board of Educ. of County of Randolph v. Scott, 217 W. Va. 128, 617 S.E.2d 478 (2005) (Represented Board of Education of the County of Randolph in litigation involving posting and filling a service personnel position.)

• Flint v. Board of Educ. of County of Harrison, 207 W. Va. 251, 531 S.E.2d 76 (1999) (Represented the Board of Education of the County of Harrison in litigation regarding uniformity of pay for certain classifications of employees.)

• Pendleton Citizens for Community Schools v. Marockie, 203 W. Va. 310, 507 S.E.2d 673 (1998) (Represented the Board of Education of the County of Pendleton in litigation involving the contested closure and consolidation of schools.)

• Karr v. Board of Educ. of County of Jackson, 203 W. Va. 100, 506 S.E.2d 355 (1998) (Represented the Board of Education of the County of Jackson in litigation involving filling professional position.)

• Grove v. Maheswaran, 201 W. Va. 502, 498 S.E.2d 485 (1997) (Represented doctor in medical malpractice litigation.)

• Williamson v. Greene, 200 W. Va. 421, 490 S.E.2d 23 (1997) (Represented supervisor in litigation involving harassment under the West Virginia Human Rights Act.)

• Named to The Best Lawyers in America (Education Law), since 2013

• Recognized as Best Lawyers’ Education Law Lawyer of the Year in northern West Virginia region (2015, 2013)

• Recognized by 2018 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of Natural Resource Law