06/11/2024
It is with great sadness that I announce that Ms. Jeanne Butts, founder of the School of Creative Children I, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Thursday, June 6th, 2024.
In 1993, she began her Early Childhood career with Hamilton County Head Start. She worked her way up the ladder in the Head Start while saving to open her very own center. Ms. Jeanne was dedicated to making a difference in every single child's life that she encountered.
Ms. Jeanne opened the School of Creative Children in March of 2004 followed by Creative Preschoolers Inc in 2006. She touched the lives of hundreds if not thousands of children and families in the Greater Cincinnati area, especially the West End Community. She retired in March of 2013 to be with family but stayed involved with SOCC1 up until its very last day in January 2024.
On any given day 50+ "kids" were her responsibility. She would run into many of the SOCC graduates that would yell her name from across a parking lot, and she would smile ear to ear and say that was one of my kids and have a story about them.
If you were lucky enough to know her you would know that she was a mighty little Irish woman from Boston. She was a force to be reckoned with when she believed in something or someone, she didn't back down.
Ms. Jeanne leaves behind her 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren and her dearest friend Ms. Runette Rice-Wilson.
The School of Creative Children was Ms. Jeanne's legacy, and we are grateful to be able to carry on her mission! Our welcome benches will be dedicated to Ms. Jeanne in the upcoming months. You can have a seat knowing that the best of the best started it all!!!
May you rest peacefully Ms. Jeanne.