Congratulations Dr. Butts for receiving National Honors as one of the Top 10 Superintendents in the United States!
The following article is the copyright and published work of Educational Insider Magazine per the link below: https://www.educationinsidermagazine.com/cxoinsight/dr-kelvin-butts-nwid-864.html
THE ARCHITECT OF CHANGE: A 30-Year Journey in Academic and Financial School Transformation
Dr. Kelvin Butts, Superintendent, Burr Oak Community Schools
Dr. Kelvin Butts' career trajectory—from starting as a school bus driver to becoming a science teacher, central office administrator, and now Superintendent of Burr Oak Community School District—reads like a blueprint for ascending educational leadership.
In this exclusive feature, Dr. Butts shares his experience tackling the most profound challenges in public education, from restoring financial solvency to achieving significant academic growth in partnership districts.
Building a Foundation of Growth
Dr. Butts' professional journey spans three decades, rooted in the sciences (Biology and Anatomy) and spanning every level of district operations. This deep, hands-on experience has informed his leadership philosophy.
"I’ve been an assistant principal, a middle school principal, a school improvement coordinator, and an interim superintendent," Dr. Butts explains. "Teaching all the sciences—biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physics—gave me a framework for problem-solving that I apply to district management: diagnose the problem, implement the intervention, and measure the results."
His most notable challenge came during his tenure as Superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools (BHAS), a district facing academic and financial distress.
The Benton Harbor Turnaround
Upon arriving at Benton Harbor, the district was identified as a partnership district with severe financial and academic deficits. Over the course of his leadership, Dr. Butts orchestrated a comprehensive turnaround rooted in fiscal responsibility and strategic investment.
Key Achievements at BHAS:
Financial Solvency: "We raised the fund balance from $3 million to $26 million," Dr. Butts states. This was achieved by obtaining a Michigan Business Office Manager certification himself to help stabilize finances until a permanent finance director could be secured, and by strategically reallocating funds.
Academic Growth: Elementary-level test scores saw a dramatic rise from 30% to 86% proficiency in reading from one testing cycle to the next. He anticipates three of the schools will soon come off the partnership district agreement. Resource and Facility Investment: Dr. Butts championed investments in the learning environment, procuring new curriculum books in every subject area—the first such purchase in over 20 years. He also secured two new gym floors, boiler systems, and installed a new track—the first in over 60 years.
Literacy Innovation: A major focus was improving literacy by installing 32 new, diverse mini-libraries in all elementary classrooms and placing book vending machines throughout every school building.
Things didn't get bad overnight, and things won't change overnight. It takes time, consistency, and a lot of effort.
Fostering Genuine Community Engagement
Dr. Butts recognized a significant disconnect between the school district and the Benton Harbor community. His solution was an innovative outreach program designed to make the school a true community resource.
"I came up with the Community ROAR Bus," he explains. "We converted a school bus into a mobile lab equipped with Wi-Fi."
This mobile unit went out into neighborhoods to provide essential services:
Outreach: Hosting book readings and FAFSA completion nights.
Access: Providing free Wi-Fi access to anyone in close vicinity.
Support: Offering a computer lab for community members to access public benefits or complete personal computing needs.
To ensure transparency, Dr. Butts also held regular community town hall meetings and delivered a comprehensive State of the District address.
The Investment in Instructional Excellence
For Dr. Butts, instructional excellence is directly tied to teacher confidence and stability.
"You have to provide teachers with professional development. It gives them more confidence and more tools for their pedagogy," he notes. "If teachers feel confident, the students tend to be more engaged."
A cornerstone of his instructional strategy was a districtwide training initiative:
Literacy Focus: All teachers went through LETTERS training (a reading endorsement program) to directly address the district’s historically low reading scores.
Addressing the Whole Child: Teachers received training in Restorative Practices and the MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) process. "We know that if a child has behavior issues stemming from external sources, we have to address those in order to get to the academics," he asserts.
This investment in professional growth fostered consistency, which in turn increased student attendance and enrollment, directly battling the chronic issue of staff turnover.
Strategic Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Dr. Butts acknowledges the uphill battles he faced—from literacy rates and low fund balances to lack of staff and facilities challenges—but credits consistency and strategic planning with his success.
"I was the longest-serving superintendent in that district in the past ten years. That consistency helped increase student attendance and enrollment," he notes.
When asked for a piece of advice for new superintendents or educational leaders seeking to drive meaningful change, Dr. Butts was clear and concise:
Learn School Finance: "Understand how to strategically reallocate and leverage funds to get more bang for your buck."
Be Transparent: "Always communicate. You can never overcommunicate."
Embrace Time and Consistency: "Things didn't get bad overnight, and things won't change overnight. It takes time, consistency, and a lot of effort."
Dr. Butts is now channeling this proven approach into his new challenge at the Burr Oak Community School District, aiming to replicate the systemic growth and community partnership success he delivered at Benton Harbor.