Diane Schatz Butterfield, MSEd, LIT, has been celebrated by Marquis Who’s Who for her expertise in education, specifically literacy. Schatz Butterfield is a retired professor and teacher who spearheaded important programs in the education system.
A Career Inspired by Her Love of Children
Schatz Butterfield started her career later than most. Before she entered the education field, she was a stay-at-home mom who raised five children. Following this achievement, she received a Bachelor of Science in child study from Saint Joseph’s University in New York in 1990, a Master of Science in literacy from Dowling College in 1994, and a degree in administration in 2003.
Schatz Butterfield’s love of children drew her to a career in education. It felt like a natural fit, even though she had to overcome her initial fears of starting a new career.
“As you get into your job, learn the system and understand how everything works, you adapt. Consequently, I wasn’t fearful of offering new ideas or suggestions,” Schatz Butterfield explains.
While teaching, Schatz Butterfield discovered that some students couldn’t read because of dyslexia. The only help they received was attending a literacy program that didn’t address their dyslexia. Recognizing that this was why so many children were struggling in school, Schatz Butterfield felt the students needed more specialized care than they received in the classroom. Inspired by her observation, she sought a solution.
Schatz Butterfield received certification as a dyslexic reading specialist from The Wilson Reading Program in 1999. After becoming certified in a program to help children with dyslexia, Schatz Butterfield brought the program to the school district and suggested they implement it. The school district was interested in the idea, especially because of her experience teaching dyslexic students and the knowledge she had acquired. This was a significant moment in her career, and she learned that being open to new ideas and advocating for them can result in positive change.
“At the time, I didn’t think about it, but today, I believe that I had a major impact. And I ended up helping kids. And that was the goal, the bottom line,” Schatz Butterfield says.
Addressing the Needs of ESL Students
Children from all over the world immigrate to the United States and often struggle with reading due to the language barrier. English as a second language (ESL) programs became part of the reading program to help these students learn how to read and speak English. When a new program was formed that taught children the phonics of reading, Schatz Butterfield became involved due to her certifications. The program was very successful, and she spent the remainder of her career teaching a class of ESL students, dyslexic, and remedial reading middle school students.
When she planned to retire, Schatz Butterfield warned the school district and encouraged them to have another teacher acquire the same certifications she had to replace her. She had to postpone her retirement until 2017 and taught two classes a day in the reading program until a replacement was trained. This was the only way to retain the program. The woman who took over the position after Schatz Butterfield’s retirement remains in the position to this day.
After witnessing the success of these programs, Schatz Butterfield was inspired to share her teaching methods by becoming a professor in the education program at St. Joseph’s College and imparting her knowledge to elementary education students from 1998 to 2012, as well as with other educators to help even more students in their academic journeys. She hopes to continue having a positive influence on the education system and to help those in need. Since retiring, she has also helped parents contact the Wilson Reading Program to get tutors to help their dyslexic children.
