Mr. Ken Upthegrove, President of the 2024 WCHCS Board of Education, is a proud Blue Lion Alumnus, graduating from Washington Senior High School in 1977.
Mr. Upthegrove has a long history with the Blue Lion Family. Applying the skills he learned at Laurel Oaks as a high school student, Ken began working in the WCHCS maintenance department in 1982, eventually earning the supervisory role a decade later. In extracurricular activities, Mr. Upthegrove started the F.C.A. program in 1985, and coached the 8th grade boys basketball team for many years.
Upon completing his degree in Vocational Education at Wright State University, Ken moved to the classroom and began teaching Blue Lions and students from across southern Ohio at Laurel Oaks in the construction trades from 1995 until his retirement in 2007.
Mr. Upthegrove married his wife, Melissa, in 1998, and together they have three sons. Kenny ’17 is a 2021 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Evan ’19 is pursuing an electrician apprenticeship, and Nathan is a Senior at WHS.
From teaching Sunday School to various youth group involvement, Ken has been an active member of Heritage Church for many decades.
When asked why he ran for the board of education, Mr. Upthegrove said, “I wanted to serve and to try to make a difference for the students of Washington Court House City Schools.”
Ken was appointed to the board in May, 1996, to fill a vacancy. Mr. Upthegrove was elected to his first term in November, 1997, where he has continued to serve for six consecutive terms. Ken’s current term runs from January, 2022, to December, 2025.