SEYMOUR – A Seymour mother of two was the unanimous choice of the Board of Education Tuesday (Aug. 25) to fill a vacancy left by Jay Hatfield, who resigned last month following an arrest.

The board appointed Casey Grenier to fill Hatfield’s seat. 

Grenier has a 13-year-old daughter and a 23-year-old son.

School board member Lori Nespoli recommended Grenier for the seat.

“I have known Casey for a long time, and I know she’s very passionate about kids and about her children’s future in education,” Nespoli said. “She’s very forward and has no problem speaking her mind.”

Grenier, a South Windsor native, lived in Seymour for about seven years before moving to Wallingford in 2025. She just moved back to town, saying her family missed the place.

“We moved back July 1 and literally just finished unpacking,” Grenier said. “Our heart was always here, so we came back to Seymour. We love this town.”

Grenier, who is a store manager for Warby Parker, a national eyeglass chain, and is studying to  be an optician, said she doesn’t shy away from a challenge. She was involved in several groups who protested Eversource rate hikes at the state capital. 

Grenier, who describes herself as an advocate for parent choice, also asked the Seymour Board of Education to lift mask mandates in schools in 2021.

“Somebody’s got to be a voice for kids,” Grenier said. “Sometimes the tougher issues need people that can get gritty with it.”

Grenier replaces Hatfield, who was charged with disorderly conduct at a Hartford Yard Goats minor league baseball game in July. He resigned July 29.  

The board had to replace someone from the same political party as Hatfield, a Republican. Grenier will serve out the remainder of Hatfield’s four-year term, which ends at the end of 2027.

Board Chairwoman Kristen Bruno said the board received seven names of potential candidates for the vacancy, which were submitted by fellow board members, as well as members of the public.

Bruno said Grenier, as well as the six other candidates, were vetted before the board made its decision. She said Grenier will make a good addition to the board.

“I like that she’s a parent and she has a volunteer background, and a business background, which we felt added a different perspective to our board,” Bruno said.

According to court documents online, Hatfield’s case file has been sealed. 

His attorney Trent LaLima, of Hartford, would not comment on what that means about the case going forward. The court website shows the case is “awaiting disposition,” with the next court date in Hartford Superior Court scheduled for Sept. 14.

The status of the case could mean Hatfield was granted admittance into a court diversion program for non-violent first-time offenders.

“Mr. Hatfield’s case is sealed so I will not be sharing much additional information at this time,” LaLima said via an email Tuesday (Aug. 25). “There has been no admission of guilt nor finding of guilt in Mr. Hatfield’s case, and he has been fully compliant with the court’s requirements since the case began.”