Meet the 35-year district employee who ‘likes paperwork’

It’s not every day that you meet someone who can say “I like paperwork” with a straight face, but when Jeannette Butler utters those words, you can bet that she means them.

Butler, who first joined Team HISD in 1979 as a teacher’s aide at Montgomery Elementary School, has been the student information representative at Looscan Elementary for the past 20 years.

“I love what I do. I love the challenge,” explains the Yates High School alumna. “I love to do new things and get better at them. So far, I have never been written up for anything not being correct, and we’ve had TEA (Texas Education Agency) audits. It’s something I pride myself on.”

Butler has also had a profound influence on at least two of the students she serves, even if she has never been a classroom teacher.

“One of my current coworkers was previously one of my students,” explained Butler. “I didn’t remember her, but she said that one year her mother cut her hair short and she didn’t like it. I always gave her compliments on it, and it made her feel better. I also have a letter from a Reagan High School senior who was asked which educator influenced her the most. She said it was me, because I always made her feel better about herself when she was here. I never saw this child again, but that letter is something I will cherish always.”

Butler officially marked her 35th anniversary with the district on Oct. 12, but a few other employees are also marking theirs this week (Oct. 12–18). See if you know anyone on this list:

35 years

• Martha Prieto, technician, Payroll

25 years

• Luis Aguilar, senior mechanic, Transportation Services
• Terrie Armstrong, senior compliance analyst, Multilingual Dept.
• Mary Broussard, sign language interpreter, Deaf Campus
• Lawrence Love, senior mechanic, Transportation Services
• Oneida Perez, senior executive secretary, Middle Schools Office

20 years

• Gretchen Alcover, teacher, Parker ES
• Romelia Flores, teaching assistant, Harvard ES

15 years

• Candida Gomez, attendant, Food Services
• William Griest, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
• Lorna Harris, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Luis Piñeiro, teacher, Rucker ES
• Bertha Smith, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Amelia Vazquez, aide, Port Houston ES
• Juana Ventura, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Early Wells, warehouse driver manager, Food Services

10 years

• Raymond Francis, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
• Michelle Hernandez, maintenance planner, Construction & Facility Services
• Susan Jordan, clerk, Westside HS
• Frances Machac, aide, Waltrip HS
• Miguel Martinez, teacher, Laurenzo ECC
• Patricia May, special education chair, Johnston MS
• Ruben Villanueva, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
• Pamela Whitson, teacher, Askew ES

5 years

• Sandra Baines, substitute aide/clerk
• Kimberly Beal, teacher, Whidby ES
• Charolette Jones, bus driver, Transportation Services

Check back next Friday for more October Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees.