Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on August 28, 2026, link to article HERE.
Hedgesville Early Learning Academy officially opened on Friday, after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was followed by student orientation.
Located across from Hedgesville High School at 100 Ridge Road North, this new school will prepare pre-K students, giving them the solid foundation they need as they continue their education.
Hedgesville Early Learning Academy is one of the first facilities in West Virginia designed and built specifically for early childhood education. The building includes classrooms designed for young students, breakout spaces, a playground and a motor skills room made to keep kids safe as they learn and develop. Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ryan Saxe explained that the district didn’t just make a traditional classroom but smaller but designed the school around the children, keeping in mind how they learn and how to better support teachers.
As a part of the 2022 bond, Saxe said that this building wouldn’t exist without the support from the community. He thanked voters and everyone else who worked behind the scenes to bring this vision to life.
“At our groundbreaking, we talked about creating a space where our youngest eaglets could learn, grow and, for lack of a better metaphor, spread their wings,” Saxe said. “This morning, the nest is ready, and in just a few moments, our eaglets will begin walking through these doors and start a journey that someday takes them across that road to become Hedgesville High School Eagles. We don’t know exactly where their flight is going to take them, but we do know that their journey begins here.”
Saxe was followed by Sara Wolfe, director of pre-K programs, who spoke about the importance of early childhood education and how they look forward to working with families to help their students grow. Then, Prinicpal Ryan Ott also spoke, sharing his excitement in starting this new journey. For him, leading Hedgesville Early Learning Academy means coming back home.
Though he’s worked at Berkeley County Schools for over 22 years, his family has always been a part of the Hedgesville school system, where Ott’s son attended.
“My family’s journey has been woven into the fabric of Hedgesville, and today, as principal, I am both returning home and looking forward to serving each and every family who will, and do, call this school and community their own,” Ott said. “The opening of Hedgesville Early Learning Academy is not just a celebration of new bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of our shared vision — a vision that every child deserves a strong start to their education, a nurturing environment and a place where curiosity and wonder are fostered from the very beginning.”
Ott then presented Hedgesville Elementary Prinicpal Jacqueline Orrence, Tomahawk Intermediate Principal Krista Ematrudo, Hedgesville Middle Prinicpal Elizabeth Adams, Hedgesville High Principal Angie Milliman, James Rumsey Technical Institute Principal Trent Sherman and Saxe a framed picture of the five stages of an eagle, representing their teamwork in raising students and guiding their education. As students prepare to start class on on Monday and Tuesday, Ott’s goal is to guide students as they begin their education journey.