WOODBURY — “Hey, Mr. Butterly,” is a greeting that can be heard from students all around the Woodbury Middle School hallways. You’ll be met with a smile and fist bump whenever he is around. He brings his enthusiastic energy, day in and day out to the WMS community.
“He gives us cool nicknames that always lift our spirits,” eighth-grader Austin Dietrich said.
Sean Butterly, the building substitute known around WMS as Mr. Butterly, has had quite the life. He attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Army, has been a lawyer, and has worked as a teacher.
He taught for five years in Hartford, one in Waterbury, and 20 in Hamden.
He is now leaving his lasting impression in Woodbury as he is coming to the end of his third year at the middle school. He can be seen outside the school as well: Catch him at school sports, plays, town baseball games, Dottie’s in Woodbury, and even football games in Watertown.
Butterly is clearly a school favorite.
“Mr. Butterly helps us in ways that some teachers don’t, which I think makes him such a good substitute,” said Dietrich.
Butterly is also quite the conversation maker. He can add to any conversation, especially about sports.
“Mr. Butterly is like a sponge for knowledge,” eighth-grade English teacher Adam Brutting said. “The only difference is that he doesn’t lose any knowledge.”
Butterly can typically be found with a book in his hand and a smile on his face.
Butterly has also had an impact in his own life from this job.
“The kids in the school and the staff and the administration will never know how positive [they are],” Butterly said.
Butterly has definitely shown what it means to make a difference and how he is a cheerful person for anyone in the school to be around.
“By the time the person’s done talking to him, the person always feels better,” Dietrich said.
That goes for Butterly, too.
“I’m the happiest guy in the Berkshires,” said Butterly.
