A Passion for Education
Dudley Butts joins AmeriSchools as new chief operations officer.
Joining the AmeriSchools team as its chief operations officer is the latest accomplishment for Dudley Butts.
Growing up as one of four teenage boys in California, Dudley learned to be self sufficient and independent from a young age. His first job was at age 14 and he’s been working ever since.
Participating in sports in high school gave Dudley insight into the significant impact teachers and coaches have as role models. “I knew from that point on that I wanted to be like them and work with kids in the coaching and teaching arena,” says Dudley.
After graduating from high school, Dudley enrolled at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota on a football scholarship. Upon graduating he entered the U.S. Army.
After a two-year stint in the Army, he began teaching and coaching, following in the footsteps of his prior role models. “I felt that I could have a positive impact on my students and athletes through teaching and coaching,” he says.
Dudley and his wife of 52 years, Diane, along with their two children, moved to Arizona in 1986. Teaching for five years in Arizona led Dudley to a career in school administration. He held a variety of administrative positions, from assistant principal to, ultimately, superintendent at Agua Fria Union High School District.
After retiring in 2009, Dudley was involved in volunteer positions in rural Africa before founding the LinksWay Foundation to help support African communities with food and education security. Meanwhile, he also principal-subbed for AmeriSchools.
Dudley’s enjoyed working with AmeriSchools so much that joining the team enticed him out of retirement. For this long-time educator, it’s no surprise he’s back in education.
“I believe all children can learn if given the opportunity. All children learn differently and at different paces and they have to be treated as such,” says Dudley, who likes the flexibility of AmeriSchools to meet the individual needs of their community of students. “My goal is to support AmeriSchools in any way I can for the foreseeable future and to grow our little foundation in southern Africa and to enjoy my grandchildren.”
“I have found a passion for learning about different cultures and have come to the conclusion that we are all in this together and that all people must respect each other––regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs, and situations.”
