The Decade Long Legacy Comes to an End
December 9, 2014
He walked off stage with tears in his eyes, leaving behind his ten-year legacy.
“It is going to be tough to leave here,” he said. “That’s because of the students. The community. It is the commitment to excellence here. The students are so driven to be successful in whatever it is they want to be successful at.”
Principal Jeff Butts announced his departure from the high school during the class meeting on Dec. 4. Butts has accepted the role as superintendent for Ballinger School District and will officially leave Argyle Dec. 22.
“I knew some day I wanted to be superintendent,” Butts said. “As a high school principal, you have an effect on the kids, but you don’t have an affect on the lower grades. That’s what the challenge is each day I come to work, to try and get better at things. That’s what I want to go do for a school district.”
When Butts announced his departure at the student meeting, he gained his fondest moment from Argyle.
“There have been so many memories, but one of my favorites has to be the morning with the standing ovation from the student body,” he said. “It meant so much because it showed the level of appreciation.”
The future superintendent sees difficulties ahead, but is excited to have reached ‘the highest level of leadership you can achieve’.
“I think it is going to be a challenge, but through challenges in life is how a person grows,” Butts said. “This is going to be my opportunity to grow professionally. I am very blessed to have gotten this job, but it’s a bittersweet feeling. Leaving here is one of the toughest things I have done in 27 years of education.”
When people look back on his legacy, Butts hopes people view him as a ‘successful principal’.
“Success means you have a place you feel safe and cared for,” he said. “That’s what I hope people think about when they think about me, not all the state championships, but how students feel about this school is the most important thing to me. It has been a privilege to be a part of this great school.”
