Butler Elementary celebrates 50th anniversary
Nora and Pearl Butler. Perhaps, you may know those names well if you attended schools or worked as an educator in Arlington ISD during the mid-1900s. After starting their teaching career at Arlington High School in 1942, Nora and Pearl retired in 1966 and 1971 respectively. Affectionately known as “the Butler sisters,” the Godley, Texas, natives worked tirelessly to ensure success for all who walked through their classroom doors.
If they were alive today, the devoted educators would be thrilled to see how much pride that countless current and former students, staff members and principals have in Butler Elementary School – a north Arlington institution named in their honor.
On a recent Friday night, hundreds from its school community – forever Broncos – along with Arlington ISD superintendent Dr. Matt Smith and Arlington board members flocked to the campus to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Along with games and food trucks, the jam-packed event included student choir performances, speeches and more to celebrate the school’s academic excellence.
Principal Mark Basham said Butler represents “the best of what happens in public education when the focus is on helping our students achieve at the greatest heights.”
“At the heart of Butler’s success is a shared belief: that each student and every community member can expect the most from one another,” Basham said. “This belief creates a powerful bond, knowing that as educators, parents and community members, we are committed to giving our all for the benefit of our children.”
Basham was overwhelmed by the massive turnout on that night. He told the crowd, “This unity is what makes Butler exceptional – a community built on partnerships, where teachers and families come together and where high expectations lead to real achievements. It is this alignment of trust, dedication and a shared vision of excellence for all that drives us forward.”
A team effort
Assistant principal Kelly McMaier – who helped plan, organize and execute the event, focusing mainly on marketing – said the event was like a homecoming.
“I enjoyed watching current and former Broncos interacting and celebrating together. Current and former students and staff were able to honor their individual experiences together, forming new memories,” she said.
During the celebration, there were raffle prize giveaways, face-painting and balloon artists. Among the highlights, McMaier said, was a Goosechase digital tool activity that “provided an interactive way for families to explore the history of Butler and hopefully learn something new!”
Another hit among the attendees was the blast-from-the-past images laid out through “decades” presentations. Teacher Molly Bennett served as a “historian,” working with a team to digitize old PTA scrapbooks and school photos. They brought new life to the dated materials by creating videos for the main event.
“I loved the time that I got to spend pouring over those books and letting the years roll back,” Bennett said. “I am a memory keeper at heart.”
Butler has remained a special place in Bennett’s heart for numerous reasons.
“My oldest daughter started here as a kindergartener 30 years ago, and I’ve never left!” she said. “I started as a parent, then became a PTA volunteer, a classroom assistant, a substitute, and I have now been a sixth-grade teacher for 18 years.”
Brittany Lee, a pre-K teacher at Butler, has had a similar journey. She first joined the school community when her daughter – who is now a high school senior – started there.
“I joined the PTA right away and was a kindergarten room mom, which helped me get to know the amazing people at Butler,” Lee said.
Lee became a staff member in 2018 when she was hired as the school’s first STEM lab manager. Lee stressed that there is “really something special about Butler.”
“I love that our staff has a family atmosphere where everyone helps each other out. We pray for each other, we collaborate with each other and we learn from each other,” she said.
Nothing was going to stop Lee from assisting with the celebration. She served on its hospitality committee, which worked to make the event’s VIP guests feel welcomed. She greatly enjoyed interacting with the many former staff members and students who came decked out in the school’s colors: red, white and blue.
“And I was able to talk with some of my own children’s former teachers. My favorite thing of the night was getting to reconnect with two students from my first pre-K class. What a joy to see them and to know they still remembered me!” Lee said.
A lasting impact
In addition to the 50th year community celebration, dubbed, “The Big Event,” the school hosted a staff-alumni luncheon. The latter event catered to more than 50 former faculty and all current staff members.
Kathy Ryan, a former teacher and co-chairperson for the alumni luncheon, taught at the school from 1978 to 2019.
“What I loved most about Butler is the culture,” Ryan said. “I worked with the first principal for 19 years, and her motto was ‘hire great people and get out of their way.’ This led to a standard of excellence that was often called ‘the Butler Way.’”
Among other things, Ryan said the committee created a legacy tree that celebrated the multi-generational families of Butler. The tree was on full display at the celebration.
“I so enjoyed seeing their faces as they found their names on the tree. I had taught most of them over the years and their kids,” she said.
Judy Callahan, another committee chairperson, said that Butler is truly a “center focal point of our community.”
Before retiring in 2023, Callahan taught half of her 34-year Arlington ISD career at Butler.
“I was first interested in becoming a teacher at Butler because of their stellar reputation for high academics and positive working environment,” Callahan said.
Over the years, Callahan said she learned that parents would intentionally buy houses and move into the Butler area to send their children to the school. She added that the PTA and Dad’s Club rally around the school’s efforts to create family experiences and provide community fun for all students.
“Many parents are former Butler Broncos themselves and have chosen to bring their children back to the school they themselves grew up in. There are many families who we consider “Legacy Families,” Callahan said.
For the 50th year celebration, secretary Debbie Steiner made numerous building-related arrangements and helped gather old scrapbooks and photos for the historian committee.
“Butler feels like a family to me, and that’s why I’ve been here over 30 years,” said Steiner, who is planning to retire soon. “I began working here as a cafeteria monitor when my family moved to Texas and my kids were in second and fifth grades. I later became a clerk, then secretary.”
The 50th year celebration, Steiner said, was “even better than I had hoped!”
Heather Frisina agreed. She first joined the Butler community when her daughter – who is now a sixth-grader – started kindergarten. The PTA president from 2022-2024, Frisina was in charge of organizing the food trucks, decorations, raffles, T-shirts and snacks.
“I thought the celebration was amazing,” Frisina said. “When you plan an event like this you never know – are you going to get a good turnout? If you do, is it worth their while? I felt like it hit on all the marks… The energy and love for Butler that evening was inspirational.”