Braxton County School District

Email: kseal@k12.wv.us

Kenna R. Seal is a retired educator who lives in Sutton with his wife Paula. He attended grade school at Cedar Creek School at Exchange and graduated from Gassaway High School. Kenna has two degrees from WVU and a doctorate from the University of Kentucky. Kenna taught Vocational Agricultural at Clay County High School. He became Braxton County Superintendent of Schools in 1976 until 1998 when he began working for the WV State Board of Education as Director of the Office of Education Performance Audits.

A Message from the Braxton County Schools Board of Education President

I previously served as a Board of Education member for 18 years (1982-2000), working closely with Dr. Kenna Seal, Superintendent. I served as the State President of the WV School Board Association in 1994-95, being elected by my peers statewide. I ran and was elected to the Braxton County Commission in 2000 and served through 2006. I have served and continue to serve on many Boards and Committees throughout Braxton and surrounding counties. In 2020, I was encouraged by my fellow citizens to return to the Board of Education and was elected to a four-year term.

I believe that I bring a unique perspective to the Board of Education based on my many facets of experience - experience that incorporates the necessity for a full understanding of education principles. I care about "our kids!" My whole value system migrates around what is best for our children and their futures. We must attempt new endeavors, go where we have never gone, and pilot educational programs that are proven to enhance and improve educational performance and learning. If we continue to do what we have always done, the end product will be the same. Our school district is in the forefront of launching great initiatives - we must continue those and add others as we can. In summing up what I bring to the table as a Board of Education member, I quote Leonardo da Vinci's famous quote: "It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things. "

Career Highlights of the Board President

Legal Secretary, ABE Teacher, Business Education/English Teacher, Licensed Social Worker, DHHR Area Administrator, Executive Director of a Social Services Organization of 550+ Employees

Credential Highlights

Local High School Graduate, Glenville State University with degrees in Business Education and English. Post Graduate studies at WVU and Morehead State University. Certifications in Social Work, Certified WCP.

Email: kevin.gregory@k12.wv.us

Introduction to Board Member Colonel (Retired) Kevin F. Gregory, US Army

Colonel (Retired) Kevin F. Gregory hails from Ireland, WV and is a 1986 graduate of Braxton County High School. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army on 3 June 1988 upon graduation from Georgia Military College, in Milledgeville, GA. He received a B.S. from Fairmont State University in Criminal Justice prior to entering active duty in November of 1990. Throughout Colonel (R) Gregory’s 29-year career, he served in numerous leadership positions from Platoon Leader to the United States Army Cadet Command’s Chief of Staff. His has commanded at every level from platoon to brigade and served at duty stations in the United States, Europe, and Southwest Asia. COL (R) Gregory has served in the 1st, 3rd and 4th Infantry Division’s, the 1st Armored Division, the 1st and 4th US Calvary, the 101St Airborne Division, the 18th Airborne Corps, and 5th Artillery Corps. He has served in operational deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Hungary and has over 3 years in combat operations in Iraq. Colonel (R) Gregory holds both an A.S. and B.S. in Criminal Justice and an executive master’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.

Kevin is married to Brenda “Gabby” Gregory and they make their home in northeastern Braxton County, near Falls Run, WV. In his spare time, you can find him outdoors hunting, fishing, golfing, or working on wildlife habitat around their home.

While Kevin’s professional experiences in a variety of assignments gives him a unique background, his focus on transparency, accountability, integrity is central to his board service. Coupled with a strong desire to see our children succeed and the belief the children of Braxton County are some of the best our nation has to offer. His commitment is to the teachers, administrators, service staff and most importantly to the students and families of Braxton County – facta non verba!

Introduction to Board of Education Member Mr. Larry Hardway 

Mr. Hardway is a local businessman and HVAC Technician. He was born in Gassaway and graduated from Braxton County High School in 1973. He attended Glenville State College in the fall of 1973 through the spring of 1975. He graduated from United Electronic Institute in Charleston, WV with an Associate Degree in Electronics in 1977. Later in 1979, he obtained an additional Associates Degree in Biomedical Electronics.

Presently, Mr. Hardway resides in Gassaway with his wife Heather, who works as an Administrative Assistant with the Braxton County Commission and grandson Anthony Dalton Hardway (BCHS class of 2022).

Message from Mr. Hardway

I have a vested interest in Braxton County’s educational and athletic systems, having raised sons Larry “Alex” Hardway (BCHS class of 1997) and Anthony “Tony” Hardway (BCHS class of 2000) in the Braxton County school system. I am a proud grandparent to Nathaniel Canter (BCHS class of 2021), Dalton Hardway (BCHS class of 2022), Erin and Emma Hardway (BCHS class of 2023), Summer Douglas (BCHS class of 2028) and Lyle Reed Hardway of Bridgeport.

Having performed a skilled trade most of my adult life, I see the importance of extended Career and Technical Education classes offered to the youth and the citizens of our county because of the importance that it plays in their lives, livelihood, and the growth of our surrounding communities. Along with my wife, I serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to explore ways to improve the CTE offerings as well as ways to stop the bleed of residents leaving our school system, improve our athletic facilities to inspire our youth, attract families to our community and stimulate economic growth.

I am an experienced youth football and wrestling coach and mentor to many young Braxton County student athletes. Many children in the county affectionately call me “granddad”.

Like many of Braxton County residents, I am a proud grandparent raising a grandchild.

Email: ldratliff@k12.wv.us

Introduction to Board of Education Member Ms. Lisa Ratliff

I went to Davis Elementary School, Gassaway Middle School, and then Braxton County High school, where I graduated in 1988. During my senior year, I was a part-time student at BCHS and full-time student at Glenville State College. In July of 1988, I left WV to attend court reporting school in VA. In December of that year, I married another Braxton County resident, Billy Ratliff, who had just graduated from United States Marine Corps bootcamp. I then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Glenville in 1998. In 2005, I graduated from WVU with a master’s in Special Education, Early Intervention - Preschool and Mod-Severe Disabilities degree, and then I added an endorsement in Autism in 2009.

I began my education career as a substitute teacher at Quantico, VA with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in 2000. We then moved to Iwakuni, Japan, where I continued as a substitute teacher with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools. In 2005, we moved to Okinawa, Japan, and I accepted a full-time position with the Department of Defense as a Special Education teacher. I left my position there in 2011 when we moved to PA. I taught in an autism support classroom in the Chambersburg Area School District for 3 years. In 2014, I began at Braxton County Middle School as a Special Education teacher. I decided to go part-time and take a position at the Board of Education as an Instructional Coach in 2017. I resigned from that position in August of 2021.

My husband and I lived in several states and two countries, moving every 3-4 years until he retired from the Marine Corps in 2016. We moved back to our farm in Servia. We have two children and four grandchildren. Our oldest grandson attends Frametown Elementary School, and the other three will also attend Frametown.

In addition to the many school systems I have worked in, my children have attended school in a variety of school systems; therefore, I have tremendous knowledge of how multiple school systems operate and become successful. I am extremely passionate about our students and our schools here in Braxton County. OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE. I will make every decision based on what is best for the students of Braxton County.