About me
Dr. Kelvin Butts is a graduate of Baldwin County Public Schools (Baldwin High School). He began
his undergrad studies at Morehouse College and later graduated from Georgia College and State
University where he earned two Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Psychology in 1997. He later
earned his Master’s of Art from Troy State University in 2005 and his Ph.D. from Capella University
in 2013. Dr. Butts began his career teaching anatomy, physiology, and biology in 1999 in Baldwin
County Schools.
In 2002 Dr. Butts became an Assistant Principal in Jasper County and eventually went on to be
named Principal. Dr. Butts continued his leadership in Bibb County, Georgia and eventually became a
central office staff in Jeffersonville, Georgia as a School Improvement Grant Coordinator. From there
Dr. Butts was a Turnaround Principal in Dooly County, Georgia, where academic performance and
teacher performance increased. In 2019 Dr. Butts completed the AASA (American Association of
School Administrators) courses to gain his credentials to be a district-level transformative leader.
In August 2020, Dr. Butts began as Principal of Fair Plain Middle School in Benton Harbor,
Michigan to later be selected as Interim Superintendent. Dr. Butts served as Interim Superintendent
until July 1 of 2022 when he was appointed Superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools. Benton
Harbor Area Schools, originally founded in 1872, is a PreK-12 urban public school district in Benton
Harbor, Michigan, with approximately 1400 students in 6 schools. Under the leadership of Dr. Butts
Benton Harbor Area Schools has made tremendous progress towards the identified goals of the
district.
Dr. Butts has been instrumental in:
● New Boilers for BHHS and FPE
● New Playground for FPE
● 32 Mini Divers Libraries in the Elementary Schools
● Book Vending Machines in every school building
● Master’s Facility Plan
● New Track field to begin construction as of June of 2024
● Two new Basketball Floors to begin construction as of June 2024
● Increasing the Fund Balance of the district through strategic use of ESSER Funds
● Created the Community Roar Bus which will serve as a technological and academic outreach
tool for the community
● Served as the district’s CFO, CHRO, CAO (briefly), Chief of Student Services (briefly)
● Earned his MSBO Certification in Finance
● Increased student achievement on NWEA
● Increased teacher salaries
● Increased teacher retention
Dr. Butts has shown true dedication and commitment to the Benton Harbor Area Schools District in
his unwavering work ethic, to keep the district moving forward in a positive direction.