Update Feb. 28: Art teacher John Butcher was announced as one of seven winners of the Kansas Master Teacher award, from the Teachers College at Emporia State University. Butcher said he was informed that he had won on a phone call from Emporia State during the afternoon on Monday Feb. 27.

“My immediate reaction was just that I thought they were calling to tell me that I didn’t win,” Butcher said. “And after the Academy Awards [Sunday] night I thought maybe they made a mistake.”

With Butcher’s retirement upcoming, he said this was the perfect timing to win.

“Winning it in my last year as a teacher is just impeccable timing, which I mean I just have three months left to teach and this really means a lot and it kind of validates that I chose this for a career.”

Original story Dec. 9: 

Art teacher John Butcher won the Blue Valley district nomination for Kansas Master Teacher award, from the Teachers College at Emporia State University. Butcher was presented the award by Principal Amy Murphy and other members of the administration, as well as two representatives from the Blue Valley National Education Association (BVNEA) during his second hour Jewelry I class Friday Dec. 9. 

After being presented with the award, Butcher said he was put into a state of shock.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Butcher said. “I can’t believe this.”

Butcher said the award was special to him because he was nominated by his teaching peers.

“Even to be nominated for the building at all is a huge honor because your other teachers nominate you,” Butcher said. “…To win the building level just shocked me, because those are great candidates.”

Murphy said the award accurately represents how the Northwest staff and administration feel about the contributions Butcher has made to the school. Murphy said with Butcher’s impending retirement after this school year, this shows how big of a vacancy he will leave.

“It’s going to leave a huge void,” Murphy said. “The leadership that he’s provided for this building has been huge, so I think that whoever comes in behind him has got some really big shoes to fill.”

Butcher said it is great to see the culmination of his hard work come to fruition through this award.

“It’s just kind of like going back through your whole career,” Butcher said. “…I mean to work your whole life and then to have this happen, I mean, it’s just unbelievable.”