Beloved Kindergarten Teacher Retires After 32 Years

Beloved kindergarten teacher Ursula Butler of is retiring after 39 years of teaching. is a much-loved teacher that many children idolize.

“My favorite part about teaching is seeing the kids grow," Butler said. "It’s a growing process."

Butler has lived in North Andover for many years, but she has taught in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jerey.

When her son Christopher was born, Butler decided to stay home. When it was time to begin her career again, she started the kindergarten at St. Michael's and has been teaching there for the past 32 years.

“My students are very young," she said. "But, the best advice that I could give them is to just to be happy and love every day of life."

Although it is very difficult to only pick one memorable moment as a teacher, Butler said that one of her proudest accomplishments is of her book “Christopher’s Super Awesome Day.” She drew inspiration from her son and decided to write the book about a little boy who loved dinosaurs.

“Christopher’s Super Awesome Day” was published in 1996 by the Dorrance Pub Co.

As a published author, Butler has cherished every opportunity that teaching has led her to. However, Ursula says that this is not the end for her. The kind-hearted teacher plans to volunteer at St. Michael Elementary School and help the children continue to prosper.

“People always tell me, 'wow, you must love your job!' I always reply 'I don’t have job,'” She said.

To Butler, this is the saddest part of her teaching career. Not because she is leaving, but because it is graduation time for her children.

“There is special kind of bond between you and your kindergarten teacher," she said.

She emphatically recalls that when she was younger, she "ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS!" wanted to become a teacher. She received a teaching job in Connecticut right after college.

As she retires today, Butler is excited to spend time with her husband Michael and her grandchildren.