After graduating from Wright State University with a degree in Elementary Education, Kelly joined the West Carrollton School District in 2004. She initially taught second and third grade, but over the years also served in literacy intervention and curriculum planning roles. In every position, she poured her energy, creativity, and compassion into her work.

“Kelly had a rare gift,” said Dr. Rebecca Mansfield, principal of West Carrollton Elementary. “She didn’t just teach content — she taught children. She saw their potential even when they couldn’t see it in themselves.”

Her Classroom: A Sanctuary of Belonging

Students remember Kelly’s classroom as a place where learning was not only engaging, but joyful. Whether she was acting out scenes from books, guiding science experiments, or leading group mindfulness moments, she infused every lesson with care and imagination. Her classroom walls were covered in bright visuals, student work, affirmations, and hand-drawn posters encouraging kindness, empathy, and self-belief.

She was especially passionate about reading, often saying that “a book can be a bridge between a child and the world.” She maintained a class library of more than 800 titles, each carefully selected to reflect her students’ identities, interests, and curiosities.

“Mrs. Seputis was the first teacher who made me feel smart,” wrote one former student, now a high school senior. “I used to be afraid of reading out loud. But she helped me, and now I want to be a teacher just like her.”

A Mentor to Many, A Friend to All

Kelly’s influence reached far beyond the classroom. She mentored new teachers, helped lead professional development workshops, and was a constant presence in school-wide initiatives to improve student wellness and equity.

She chaired the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) committee, helped implement inclusive education strategies, and supported students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) with rare insight and grace. She was known to stay long past contract hours — often tutoring students who needed extra help, comforting children in distress, or simply listening to what was on their hearts.

“She was the heart of our staff,” said fellow teacher Mark Johansen. “She always knew when someone needed support, and she never hesitated to give it. Whether you were a student, a colleague, or a parent, she treated you like you mattered — because to her, you did.”

Personal Life and Values

Outside of school, Kelly was deeply devoted to her family and community. She was a proud mother of two — Elena, age 17, and Micah, age 13 — both of whom attend West Carrollton schools. She often shared stories about them with her students, weaving her love for them into her teaching in subtle but heartfelt ways.

She also loved gardening, crafting, and baking, and was known for hosting themed classroom parties where she would bring in homemade cookies shaped like storybook characters or volcanoes (depending on the science unit). Her sense of humor was warm and disarming — she could make anyone laugh, and she often used humor to build trust and ease tension.

Faith was also a core pillar of Kelly’s life. She was a longtime member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and helped lead children’s programming. Her belief in service, humility, and grace guided every aspect of her life.

A Sudden Loss, A Community Shaken

The circumstances of Kelly Seputis’s passing have not been publicly disclosed out of respect for her family’s wishes. What is clear, however, is that the shock and depth of her loss have left a lasting mark.

On Monday morning, grief counselors were made available throughout the school district, and special assemblies were held at West Carrollton Elementary, Intermediate, and Middle Schools to provide space for mourning, remembrance, and reflection.

The district has also established the Kelly Seputis Legacy Fund, which will support future educators pursuing degrees in teaching and provide scholarships for West Carrollton students who demonstrate leadership in service, empathy, or peer mentorship — qualities that defined Kelly’s work.

Superintendent Dr. Harold Banks expressed the district’s sorrow in a written statement:

“Mrs. Seputis was a model educator and a shining light in our schools. Her passing is an immeasurable loss, but her influence will never fade. The values she lived by — compassion, resilience, inclusivity, and love — will remain at the heart of our district’s mission. We honor her, and we will carry her legacy forward.”

Tributes from Every Corner

Online memorials, social media tributes, and handwritten notes have flooded in from those whose lives Kelly touched.

• A parent wrote: “My son was shy and anxious when he started school. Mrs. Seputis brought him out of his shell. She taught him how to love himself. I’ll never forget that.”
• A former student, now a college freshman, posted: “Mrs. Seputis was the reason I didn’t give up in sixth grade. She saw something in me I didn’t see. I owe her everything.”
• Her daughter Elena, in a poignant Instagram post, shared: “You were my mom, but also my hero. I hope I make you proud. I miss you so much.”

Final Farewell and Community Commemoration

A public memorial service for Kelly Seputis will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church in West Carrollton. The service will be open to all, with a candle-lighting ceremony, musical tributes from students, and eulogies from colleagues and friends.

Her burial will follow in a private family service at Evergreen Cemetery, with arrangements handled by Swart Funeral Home.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kelly Seputis Legacy Fund, or to local education programs supporting underserved students — a cause Kelly held close to her heart.

A Legacy that Endures

In the end, Kelly Seputis leaves behind far more than lesson plans and report cards. She leaves behind a generation of students who believe in themselves because she believed in them first. She leaves behind colleagues who feel more empowered, more whole, and more inspired because of her example. She leaves behind a community that is stronger, more compassionate, and more unified because she gave her heart to it — every single day.

In the words of one student’s tribute, written in crayon on a piece of notebook paper and pinned to her classroom door:

“You were my safe place. You made school feel like home. I will miss you forever, Mrs. Seputis.”