Eileen Butler has changed childhood dream into lifetime reality
Staff writer
Eileen Butler has been in the same school system and the same school for all her teaching career — 34 years.
She was raised on a farm at Eldora, Iowa, graduated from Eldora High School and attended McPherson College.
"I went to the Church of the Brethren at home, so that's why I chose McPherson College — it was affiliated with my church," Butler said.
In 1968, she received her bachelor of science degree in education from McPherson College.
"I always knew I was going to be a teacher," Butler said. "I used to play school or mimic what had happened that day in school when I was growing up."
Butler said she applied for a job in two places, and only the Hillsboro school officials responded to her application. She received a letter in the mail stating that they had no vacancies then.
"The same day I received the letter, I got a call from Harvey Jantz," Butler said. "He said that a position just opened and asked if I would come in for an interview."
The vacancy had been left by Elaine Suderman who was resigning for maternity reasons.
"I did not know who she was then, but I know her now," Butler said.
During the interview process, Butler said she was asked if she would be living in town and if she would be involved in the community.
"Back then, they could ask you questions like that, but not now." She said.
One week after the interview, Butler said about two school officials came to McPherson College and brought her the teaching contract to sign. Butler said she wanted to make sure that she was getting the third grade position that was vacant.
"I asked them to fill in the blank saying third grade before I signed the contract," she said.
In the fall of 1968, Butler began her career as an elementary school teacher. She taught third grade for two years at Suncrest, located in the country.
"At that time all the third graders were bused to Suncrest," Butler explained.
For a short stint, from August to December of 1970, the third graders were moved to the junior high school in Lehigh until the elementary school building was completed.
"That's when we moved into what was then an open classroom, Butler said. "We had no walls to separate the three classrooms — that was an experience."
After Butler had taught third grade for 10 years, she felt she wanted a change. So when a first grade teaching opened, she took it and taught first grade for five years.
Then in the fall of 1983, an opening for third grade opened up, and Butler applied for it.
"That's when my aunt Evelyn Schmidt retired," Butler said. "So, I took her place."
Butler still holds that third grade position today but has moved to a different room — a self-contained classroom.
In 1976, she received her master's in education from Wichita State University.
"Wichita State needed students for their master's program, so they offered it here in Hillsboro at Tabor College, using their facilities," Butler said.
"That was a good deal and time for me to get my master's so I took advantage of it," she said.
Butler said she feels her biggest accomplishment in teaching for her came in her second year as a teacher in 1969.
She had the students collect bottle caps as a way of learning to see how many are in a million. Each day she had the students count the bottle caps that were brought in or given to them. They used tally marks to keep a record of the amount of caps brought in.
They did not reach their goal the first year, but students who had moved on to the fourth grade helped the new third graders achieve their goal of collecting one million bottle caps.
"It was a big thing and a rather neat thing to do," Butler said. "The Star-Journal did a story about the project."
Butler said because of the article printed in the newspaper, people from all over the area began sending or bringing the class bottle caps.
In the spring of 1971, the class dumped all the bottle caps outside on the east side of the building.
"People came by to see them," Butler said. "My parents even came down from Iowa to see them."
Butler said a few people asked how did we know there were one million bottle caps — to that Butler said I told them, "Feel free to count them."
Other projects that the Butler's third grade classes are known for years are the Thanksgiving turkeys and the flat Stanleys. The flat Stanleys — students drew pictures of themselves — are sent places throughout the U.S. and abroad.
"Some of the flat Stanleys have traveled to Europe," Butler said. "Last year, we had two of them go to the fire departments in the New York City after 9-11."
Another project she has done for years was have students draw a self-portrait of themselves. Butler files them along with other mementos from the students and gives them back to students when they graduate from high school. The self-portraits of students, in some years, have been displayed at the Trojan After Prom Party.
Butler is in her 35th year of teaching and said she has enjoyed it.
"The light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter," Butler said. "But I probably won't retire for several years as long as my health is good."
She said that there have been many changes in those 35 years from dress codes for teachers and various class sizes to curriculum changes and state guidelines.
Butler also has taught under five superintendents, H.B. Kliewer, Keith Bray, Dr. Marvin Schadt, Dr. Robert C. Brown, and now Gordon Mohn.
"There is no better school system and town to live in," Butler said.
She is a lifetime member of the NEA, a member of the KNEA and the USD 410 Education Association. She is also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Alpha Omega Chapter.
A member of the United Methodist Church in Hillsboro, Butler has served on various boards and committees and as taught Sunday school classes.
Butler is involved in the community, as well. She was a member of the Mentor Study Club, is a charter member of the Historical Society, and was head of the women's committee of the Hillsboro Centennial in 1974.
Butler's hobbies include reading, cooking, and helping Mark and Tina King with their concessions stand at the K-State games and various arts and crafts fairs.
Butler, who is single, has two brothers, Ed and his wife Judy Butler of McPherson, and Don and wife Velva Butler of Grundy Center, Iowa. She has five nieces and nephews and 10 grand nieces and nephews.
"Family is important to me," Butler said. "We take short family trips and go back to the farm sometimes, to Abilene, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Wichita — and that's been fun."
