Bradford native and Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 Director of Educational Services, Kelly Compton, has been selected as Northern Pennsylvania Regional College’s (NPRC) 2026 Commencement Speaker. The ceremony is slated to be held on Saturday, May 9, at Wilds Sonshine Factory, Inc. in Kane.
Compton is an educational leader, leadership coach, and advocate whose work is shaped by both professional expertise and lived experience. Raised in a lower-income, working-class family in McKean County, she understands firsthand the barriers that can make higher education and opportunity feel out of reach. Those experiences have deeply shaped her lifelong commitment to equity, perseverance, and expanding pathways for others. “The trajectory of my life was changed by teachers,” said Compton. “I was the first in my family to go to college, and if it wasn’t for the love and support of my teachers, I wouldn’t have gotten there. That I work in education now should speak volumes about the impact they had on me as a student in the Bradford Area School District. I am fortunate that I can give back to students and be of service in education both in Bradford and the region at large.”
Compton was a first-generation college student and attended Seton Hill University, where she earned a degree in theatre and a certification in elementary education. She has since added a master’s degree in educational administration from St. Bonaventure University and a Letter of Eligibility for School Superintendent from Pennsylvania Western University – Edinboro. Originally, she planned to pursue acting as a career, but after engaging in service and learning opportunities, she discovered her true calling – serving others. After college, Compton worked as an AmeriCorps member in the non-profit and education sectors for several years until family duties called her home to Bradford.
Upon her return home, she found work as an elementary school teacher in the Otto-Eldred School District. The district took a chance on her and is primarily responsible for her development as a leader. Since that time, Compton has remained in the education field. After 15 years with the Bradford Area School District and a stint with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, she found her current opportunity with the Seneca Highlands IU9, where she leads a team of nine other professionals. “How lucky am I to lead a team of high-performing individuals and just all-around good humans”, said Compton. Together Compton and her team support a total of 14 different school districts located across Cameron, Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties.
“I tell students and my kids this all the time, ‘education gives choices’. I never want children and youth in our area to be without choices in their lives. I think the work we do at the IU9 and the work NPRC does matches, giving our residents choices for the future; choices of careers and where they want to take their lives. Growing up in a not-ideal situation, I was fortunate to have the teachers I did who helped me choose to further my education by going to college. I am so grateful that so many people and organizations came together to make NPRC a reality. Because of their commitment, higher education is more accessible in this region than ever before — and that means individuals here finally have real choices about their futures without having to leave home to find them.”
Compton also supports schools and communities through leadership development, curriculum and assessment design, and data-informed improvement efforts. She is known for helping educators and leaders translate challenges into purpose-driven action, particularly in rural communities and underserved contexts. She is also a Trauma-Informed – Resilience-Focused Specialist and a Certified Dare to Lead facilitator of Brene Brown’s courage-building research. These designations allow her to work with individuals and organizations to build courage, clarity, and belonging in times of change.
Outside of her career, Compton is also a doctoral candidate at Point Park University in the Leadership and Administration program and is nearing the completion of her dissertation on teacher leadership and the conditions that allow people to lead from where they are. Compton is also a longtime advocate for children and families navigating adversity. She is an adoptive parent to eight children between the ages of 11 and 35, all from the child welfare system, and a co-founder of a local Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. Through this work, she has dedicated much of her life to standing alongside those who are often underestimated and under-resourced. “Resilience is not about ‘beating the odds alone,’ she explained. “But it is about discovering one’s voice, purpose, and capacity to create a better future — both for oneself and others.”
During her commencement address, Compton will share her story and highlight the importance of personal responsibility for individuals and the region as a whole. “I was honored to speak to some of the staff and the Board of Trustees at a retreat the College had in the past, and I’m truly honored and feel respected that NPRC felt I was worthy of being the speaker. I hope I can do the students and all attendees justice and plant some seeds in my message to the graduates,” she said.
For more information about Northern Pennsylvania Regional College’s upcoming commencement ceremony, visit the institution’s website.
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