Kimberly S. Croyle

Kim’s practice focuses on representing boards of education throughout the State of West Virginia. She does what she does so that boards of education can do what they do best — make a difference in the life of a child. Whether it is formulating policies and providing in-service training to faculty and staff, or offering advice and guidance to school boards throughout the state on education law issues, including bullying and harassment, OCR investigations and reviews; special education issues (IDEA), §504 accommodations, personnel matters, Title IX, FERPA, Title VII, the ADA and general school laws, Kim devotes her practice to guiding boards of education and administrators through the myriad of laws and regulations they face.

She appears on behalf of her clients before the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board; at due process hearings and mediations; in state and federal court; and before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Kim interacts regularly with the West Virginia State Department of Education and federal agencies, such as the Office for Civil Rights and the EEOC, on behalf of local boards of education.

Kim has been named to The Best Lawyers in America ® (Education Law) from 2013 to the present and was recognized as Best Lawyers' Education Law Lawyer of the Year in the northern West Virginia region (2015, 2013). She has been interviewed by the National Law Journal and The Washington Post regarding Harassment and Bullying, and has been published by the American Association of School Administrators; Leadership Insider: Practical Perspectives on School Law & Policy; and the National School Boards Association.  She frequently offers insight and guidance to the Special Ed Connection, a publication devoted to issues involving the education of children with special needs. She was named to the 2021 class of the West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellows.

Kim is actively involved with Bowles Rice Partner in Education – Eastwood Elementary School in Morgantown, West Virginia. When she is not working, you will most likely find her in the stands, cheering on her favorite players.

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

Published Opinions

• 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.)

• Leake v. Shreve v. Berkeley County Bd. of Educ., 965 F. Supp. 838 (D.C.N.D. W. Va. 1997) (Represented the Board of Education of the County of Berkeley in litigation involving special needs student, provision of services, and statute of limitations.)

• Richardson v. Kennedy, 197 W. Va. 326, 475 S.E.2d 418 (1996) (Represented doctor in medical malpractice/wrongful death litigation.)

• Ronnie Lee S. v. Mingo County Bd. of Educ., 201 W. Va. 667, 480 S.E.2d 801 (1996) (Represented the Board of Education of the County of Mingo in litigation involving student with special needs.)  

• Conrad v. ARA Szabo, 198 W. Va. 362, 480 S.E.2d 801 (1996) (Represented West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority and Edward Rudloff in litigation involving harassment under the West Virginia Human Rights Act.)

• Yourtee v. Hubbard, 196 W. Va. 683, 474 S.E.2d 613 (1996) (Represented individual in litigation involving wrongful death/foreseeability.)

• Pratt v. Pratt, 197 W. Va. 102, 475 S.E.2d 102 (1996) (Represented individual in division of marital property.)

• Pratt v. Pratt, 193 W. Va. 106, 454 S.E.2d 400 (1994) (Represented individual in characterization of property as marital or separate property.)

• Named to The Best Lawyers in America ® (Education Law) 2013-present

• 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

• Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
• Gas & Oil Association of WV, Inc.
• Metallurgical Coal Producers Association
• Monongalia County Bar Association
• National Association of College & University Attorneys (NACUA)
• National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys
• West Virginia Coal Association
• West Virginia School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys