Chaula Butterworth 

Chaula Butterworth is a paraeducator at Farmland Elementary School.

Dependable and warm, Butterworth has developed strong relationships with students; she knows their areas of strength and who needs additional support. She is often asked to cover classes and is always prepared to teach any subject to any grade level. One of her notable strengths is her flexibility; she embraces new challenges with enthusiasm and is quick to adjust her strategies to meet students’ evolving needs.

With an unwavering commitment to students, Butterworth takes great care and joy in supporting them, working to increase their English proficiency, and understanding that each student must be met where they are academically and learn at their own pace. She goes above and beyond to advocate for students who may struggle to express their feelings or lack the words to effectively express themselves.

Highly organized and calm under pressure, she serves as a role model for new paraeducators, was instrumental in the onboarding of three paras in the past year, and produced a comprehensive manual to help others in assembling their own resources. She has also helped develop and manage the schedule for the paraeducators at Farmland, working closely with the Home School Model teachers to ensure that special ed students receive necessary supports. She helps plan the schedule for lunch and recess staffing, taking the health and welfare of lunch and recess aides into consideration (not being exposed for too long to heat or freezing temperatures or to the loud noise in the cafeteria). The small things she does add up to have a huge impact.

Along with other honorees, the Supporting Services Employee of the Year winner will be announced at the annual Champions for Children celebration on May 1.