Dr. Beatrice Butler, EdD (she/her), is a Specialist/Coach in the Department of Racial Equity and Advancement at Seattle Public Schools. Dr. Butler is assigned the task of supporting 22 north end schools. She believes that advancing racial equity will help achieve a place for community to start healing and stop harming both our children and educators of color. It is not just surface work, a project here a project there, it is digging deep, uncovering personal truths and planting seeds of hope for change. It is working towards dismantling White Supremacy (aka no Settler Colonialism or Anti-Blackness) where it is not the norm.
Beatrice has served as an Elementary Classroom Teacher, Academic Interventionist, Levy Coordinator, Head Teacher, and Assistant Principal at various Seattle schools. Growing up in Yakima Washington in the 60’s and 70’s has helped shape her Racial Equity Why.
She is working on building collectivism moving away from individualism to solidarity. This speaks to the racial and other inequities at the schools where the elevating of students’ voice can lead to more co-constructed theories of actions and change that address the systematic root of those problems. This has been a move of collective action. By cultivating the agency and leadership of other educators and students, especially those marginalized by the systems, we can shift inequitable power and build solidarities in inquiry process.
Dr. Butler is determined to shine the light on inequities in the school system. By knowing her identity, worth and what she values, a change will be enacted. Beatrice is a proud educated and gifted Black/African American Woman that believes it is important to ground the equity work by examining mindset and facing personal biases. It begins when the community and families are included in the planning of schooling.
Beatrice received a BA from Central Washington University. She has her Teaching Certification and MA Human Development from Pacific Oaks College Northwest. She has her Principal Certification, Superintendent certification, and Doctor of Education from the University of Washington.
What was your proudest moment?
When I received my Doctor of Education degree from the University of Washington. It was a 3-year journey that started with the death of my mother. I promised I would finish for her.
What are people most surprised to learn about you?
I was a professional Graphic Designer for 11 years. I worked for Kodak, Fisherman’s News, RV-Life Travel Magazine, The Catholic Northwest Progress Newspaper, and Boeing Motion Picture Unit. Once people find out I am usually called in to do some sort of artwork!
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I don’t just have one, but my tops are spending time with my husband at the ocean, reading books and watching movies that take you to another time and place. (Mind Travel/Time Travel). Need to sneak some real travel in.
Why are you passionate about BELONG Partners?
I had taken some training with Dr. Jody McVittie in the early 2000’s (when BELONG Partners was Sound Discipline). It was designed to aid in young people thriving because the relationships were developed. This fit my personal beliefs, and I totally embraced the work in my 3rd grade classroom. I was seeking a better understanding about our educational system around trauma-informed practices and how best to engage with my students who had experienced trauma understanding it is based on feelings of belonging. The work not only addressed the student, it included the families, which was key for me and my work within my classroom. Years later, I was excited to hear that the work was continuing and felt a pull to be a part of it, especially with my current work in the Racial Equity and Social-Emotional Learning departments within Seattle Public Schools.