For Black History Month, the staff at Butler have decorated their classroom and office doors to honor and celebrate Black history makers and heroes.

Principal Carmen Banwart got started with photos of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first African-American and Asian-American woman to be vice president of the United States.

“I just feel like she honors all women,” Banwart said. “But it’s also such a milestone in our country and she is an advocate for children.”

Kindergarten teacher Shawn Russell spent a weekend researching Black heroes to choose who to display for her classroom. She landed on Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first African-American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, in 1864.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Butler kindergarten teacher Shawn Russell chose Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler to decorate her classroom door for Black History Month. Crumpler was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, in 1864.

“I thought this would be a great person and she would tie in with COVID, which we’re studying in science,” Russell said. “She was an inspiring doctor.”

Fourth grade teacher Timmi Dencklau decorated her classroom door with photos and information about Iowa State University football player Jack Trice.

“For my kids, a lot of them haven’t been out of the state of Iowa, so I wanted to pick somebody who made such a big impact on Iowa and someone they can easily make a connection to,” she explained.

Trice was the first African-American athlete for what was then Iowa State College in 1922. He died in October 1923 after sustaining serious injuries during a football game against the University of Minnesota.

Jack Trice Stadium in Ames is the only NCAA Division I football stadium named after an African-American.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Timmi Dencklau’s fourth grade students can learn about Jack Trice, the first African-American athlete to compete at Iowa State University and the first African-American to have an NCAA Division I football stadium named in his honor.

“In the world we’re living in, it’s such an honor that the stadium would be named after him,” Dencklau said.

Brenda McDowell, Title I reading teacher, admires the courage and determination shown by Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana in 1960. Due to protests against desegregation, Bridges had to be escorted to and from school by U.S. Marshals.

“It doesn’t matter who or what you are, you can do what you want,” is the lesson McDowell wants her students to glean from Bridges’ story. “The sky’s the limit.”

While most staff members chose civil rights leaders and trailblazers, instructional coach Jeri Thompson chose to honor a more local hero — fellow Butler staff member Tonia Burrell.

“When I think of Black History Month, I think about celebrating African-American heroes and people who made big contributions to society,” Thompson explained. “I think of all the things Tonia does on a regular basis to help us as a school system. She really pushes our thinking as a school team and has conversations about race and racism.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Butler Title I teacher Brenda McDowell chose to honor Ruby Bridges on her classroom door for Black History Month because she admires her courage and determination. Bridges was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana in 1960.

Thompson’s office door features a silhouette of Burrell wearing a Dodgers T-shirt.

Burrell, who is a success center specialist, is a great role model for the students at Butler, Thompson said.

“She’s a champion for all of our kids, but especially our kids of color,” she said.