Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Butler Strong

From Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools:

October 1st, 2019

Butler Strong

When Butler High Principal John LeGrand was named Southeast Learning Community Principal of the Year, he immediately thanked his staff. “This isn’t just my award,” he said. “This is everybody’s award. This is something that we all earned together and I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for you and all your help.”

Learning Community Superintendent Tangela Williams surprised LeGrand with the news at a staff meeting.“Principal LeGrand is successful because of his ability to build and leverage relationships with all of his stakeholders, especially his students,” said Williams. “He has led Butler through hard times as well as good times and exemplifies what ‘Butler Strong’ means. Principal LeGrand is well deserving of this honor and recognition.”

Senior Administrative Secretary Dorothy Flaherty agrees. “Mr. LeGrand is always fair to everyone,” she said. “He has a vested interest in CMS. Not only does he work here, his children go to school in the district. He works really hard to always do what is best for our students. The staff trust him, knowing that he is thoughtful and insightful in all his actions.”

LeGrand was shocked to hear that he’d won. “It was not anything that I expected,” he said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would win. It was really gratifying to be recognized by my peers, especially from the Southeast Learning Community. That is the greatest compliment I can receive: praise and recognition from people who do this same work and understand what it is like to be a principal in this school district. I am grateful. Our staff makes me look good all the time. This is great news for our school.”

Since a fatal shooting at the school last year, LeGrand and his team learned to come together stronger than ever. “We’ve really been put to the test and we passed with flying colors,” said LeGrand. “On Oct. 29, we were at a crossroads. We were either going to come together and rally around each other, or we were going to divide and let our school culture be destroyed.

“I am very proud to say we were able to come together. We still remember and we will never forget. We did move forward in a positive way because we cared about each other as people.”

This is LeGrand’s sixth year as Butler’s principal. He taught for four years in Lancaster, S.C., before beginning his career in CMS as a social studies teacher when Mint Hill Middle opened in 2003. He was an assistant principal at J.M. Alexander Middle, Independence High and Bain Elementary, where he became principal before moving to Butler.

LeGrand is from Winnsboro, S.C., a small town 30 miles from Columbia, S.C. “It was a great place to grow up,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade my childhood for the world.”

He received a baseball scholarship for North Greenville University, where he played for two years before transferring to Clemson University. “I had enough of baseball and just wanted to be a student,” he said. He earned his master’s degree in school administration from the University of South Carolina.

LeGrand felt called to be an educator early in life. “I’ve always been drawn to working with young people for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I’ve always had a desire to help young people succeed. I can’t imagine doing anything different.”

Outside of work, LeGrand enjoys spending time with his wife, Beth, and children, Frannie and Michael. Both children are students at Mint Hill Middle. “They keep me busy,” he said. “I was lucky enough to marry my best friend and we love to travel together. I am an avid Clemson fan. I love going to games, watching them and talking about the team until I get on everyone’s nerves.”

This press release was produced by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.