WHO WE ARE
Our Mission
To promote student achievement and enhance teacher excellence
Our History
In 2008, the Kump family home and an endowed trust were gifted to the City of Elkins by the will of Mary Gamble Kump, daughter of H.G. Kump, 19th Governor of the State of West Virginia. The Kump Education Center, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, was organized in 2010 to fulfill Mary Gamble Kump's further declared wishes that the property be used for preservation and education.
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Completed in 1925, the Gov. Kump House was the family home to the family of H. Guy Kump, a prominent attorney and the 19th Governor of West Virginia. Kump served in office from 1933 to 1937 and is best known for promoting public education and partnering with the federal government to advance public works projects across the state during the Great Depression.
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The Kump House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Today, the City of Elkins owns it.
Our Purpose
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Professional development for educators
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Student achievement
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Good citizenship development of children and youth
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Sustainability activities and studies
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Historic preservation
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Heritage education and cultural tourism
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Board of Directors
A ten-member volunteer Board of Directors governs the Kump Education Center. Directors include individuals with varied backgrounds but are all committed to the KEC mission.
Priscilla Gay
Andrew Carroll
K. J. Shaffer
Crystal Krause
Malcolm Long
Heather Biola
Laura Santmyer
Sam Cusimano
Russ Collett
Sue Russetti
Judy Guye, Emeritus
Staff
Executive Director: Dr. Heather Biola is a professional teacher educator with extensive experience in classroom instruction, curriculum design, and program development. Dr. Biola is an experienced grant writer who understands needs analysis, project design and administration, and follow-up analysis and evaluation. She has supported student teaching and the entry of new teachers into the educational system.
Administrative Coordinator: Sara Gladwell
Administrative Assistant: Denise Hass
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Kump House Endowment Trust Board of Directors
Jerry Marco, Mayor, City of Elkins
Chris Wood, President, Davis & Elkins College
Michael Parker, Prosecuting Attorney, Randolph County
Michael Riggleman, Senior Magistrate, Randolph County
Dr. Peter Vial, Minister, Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church
WHAT WE DO
Historic Preservation
The Kump House preservation work utilizes a 10-year plan developed by the Mills Group, which recognizes that the KEC is an adaptive reuse of the property, which includes the house and about 6 acres.
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Designed by Washington D.C. architect Clarence Harding
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Built in 1925 by T.R. Whiteman of Elkins
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Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983
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Furnished with almost all original furnishings to the house
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Workshops have been offered on historically appropriate restoration techniques
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​Heritage Apple Orchard and Elkins Tree Board Nursery
The Kump House property provides many opportunities for hands-on learning and supports tree-planting initiatives throughout the city of Elkins. We have:
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An heritage apple tree orchard
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Workshops on pruning and grafting and other related topics
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A tree nursery supported by the Elkins Tree Board, Friends of Trees and WV Division of Forestry, Urban Forestry
Wetlands Nature Area and Tree Arboretum Walk
Wetlands are part of the Kump property and offer many conservation and programming opportunities. More recently, a self-guided Arboretum Walk was created on the Kump grounds.
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The wetlands area has been visited by many students, from summer campers to college students. Planning is underway to create interpretive materials for the path and improve accessibility. The new Arboretum Walk is also popular
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Thanks to the extraordinary work of naturalist Elizabeth Byers, the wetlands flora of the historic Kump House is part of an international database: iNaturalist.
Summer Camp Activities
The KEC works with several groups to provide a quality hands-on curriculum. Recent summer programming with the Elkins Randolph County YMCA and the Randolph County SOLE program included wetlands tours and Project WILD and Project Learning Tree activities. Spanish Camp for elementary students has also been offered in recent years.
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Targeted Tutoring Program
The Kump Education Center launched a targeted tutoring program for elementary students several years ago, supported by Citizens Bank of West Virginia. KEC offers after-school tutoring in basic math and reading to help prepare fourth- and fifth-grade students for year-end testing. Trained tutors provide one-on-one assistance to students recommended by their teachers. The tutoring takes place in the Optimum Learning Lab at the Kump Education Center.