Position: ESE Teacher
School: Beacon Cove Intermediate School
School District: The School District of Palm Beach County
City, State: Jupiter, FL
Over the past 23 years, Mrs. Butterworth has changed so many lives for the better in a great way. Parents comment all the time that after coming into her classroom with all sorts of problems and issues, they left and went on to upper grades and even adulthood with their lives changed for the better.
"I have goosebumps just thinking about it because I’m there for kids like they are my own. Whether the students have Autism or ADHD, if their parents have cancer, or if a parent died in a tragic accident, I love them just the same and greet them with respect and grace," said Butterworth.
Mrs. Butterworth can relate because she has two daughters in high school. One of her daughters, a junior, has high anxiety and is extremely gifted. Her other daughter, a senior, has autism and has always struggled for the past 13 years. Mrs. Butterworth can relate to struggling students, and because of that, she teaches them with love and grace.
"I believe that building relationships with kids is what I was sent here to do. I get to know and love the families I work with. They get my personal cell phone, and they can contact me at any point to let me know what’s going on so I can help and understand their kids better, no matter what's going on at home. Everything about what’s going on with them in their personal lives affects how they are in school behaviorally and academically, and knowing about it makes me able to really connect and reach those kids, as well as all the others," said Butterworth.
Mrs. Butterworth loves teaching children, being part of their lives, inspiring them, and helping them become better, no matter their abilities or disabilities. This year, for the first time ever, she's working with six classes, including ESE students with learning and emotional disabilities. For Mrs. Butterworth, it has been the most rewarding year so far, and she loves it.