Rhonda L. Butler
Rhonda Louise Butler was raised in Branford, along with her siblings, Donna, Tom and Bill, the children of Sally and Donald Rupert. Throughout Rhonda’s high school career she was a stellar athlete, excelling at field hockey, basketball, and volleyball; and played in the summer softball leagues.
Upon graduation, Rhonda moved to Saranac Lake, NY, where her four daughters, Jennifer, Kristin, Rebekah, and Courtney were born. While in NY, Rhonda earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) degree and worked at the Uihlein Mercy Center in Lake Placid.
Rhonda and her daughters returned to Branford in 1976. As a single parent, she held two jobs to support her family. She spent five years as a Branford School bus driver. In addition, she was employed at the Sybil Creek Tavern where she met her husband, Peter Butler, to whom she has been married for thirty-five years. Rhonda returned to school at Gateway Community College and earned her Connecticut degree as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Rhonda’s training was demonstrated when she performed CPR on an elderly gentleman who was suffering a massive heart attack. Her quick response saved his life and for this she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Town of Guilford.
Rhonda has always been an active volunteer in the community. She was dedicated to supporting her talented daughters by becoming a Girl Scout leader for seven years, coaching her girls’ softball teams and serving as president of the Girls’ Softball League. She also organized a yearly blood donor drive around Mother’s Day when her mother passed away in 1990. In 1998, Rhonda was selected as the Branford Review Person of the Week.
It was in 1980 that Rhonda decided to open a family daycare in order to spend more time with her daughters. Thus, “Rhonda’s Rompers Family Childcare” was established. To improve her skills as a childcare provider and preschool educator, Rhonda returned to Gateway and earned her Child Development Associates degree. Rhonda’s Rompers program has cared for and educated nearly eight hundred children over the past thirty-five years. Rhonda provides a variety of enrichment activities including instructors who teach yoga, music and sign language. She has a strong sense of community and engages the children to feel the same as they explore the neighborhood and the town. There “field trips” are an example of Rhonda’s philosophy that every day is filled with what she calls “teachable moments”. On walks, children will learn house numbers, letters on street signs and colors. They may visit construction sites learning about various jobs and machinery. There are regular activities such as cooking, involving measuring and counting. She teaches games where they learn about following rules, taking turns, fairness, and sportsmanship. In the spring, they create an organic vegetable garden from seeds they’ve planted indoors. They will cultivate, make vegetable signs and learn the need for water and sun. They’ll take pictures of the growth and eventually enjoy the bounty of their labor.
Rhonda has been a member of many professional organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association for Family Child Care, the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative and is affiliated with the Yale Child Study Program and All Our Kin Association, also a Yale University affiliate and the Second Homes Family Childcare Association where she has held several offices, including president.
The children under her tutelage have thrived and excelled. Rhonda plans to continue educating her children on the importance of being respectful, mindful and productive. Branford is indeed fortunate to have such a dedicated caregiver who provides an extraordinary environment for our young children.
Upon graduation, Rhonda moved to Saranac Lake, NY, where her four daughters, Jennifer, Kristin, Rebekah, and Courtney were born. While in NY, Rhonda earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) degree and worked at the Uihlein Mercy Center in Lake Placid.
Rhonda and her daughters returned to Branford in 1976. As a single parent, she held two jobs to support her family. She spent five years as a Branford School bus driver. In addition, she was employed at the Sybil Creek Tavern where she met her husband, Peter Butler, to whom she has been married for thirty-five years. Rhonda returned to school at Gateway Community College and earned her Connecticut degree as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Rhonda’s training was demonstrated when she performed CPR on an elderly gentleman who was suffering a massive heart attack. Her quick response saved his life and for this she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Town of Guilford.
Rhonda has always been an active volunteer in the community. She was dedicated to supporting her talented daughters by becoming a Girl Scout leader for seven years, coaching her girls’ softball teams and serving as president of the Girls’ Softball League. She also organized a yearly blood donor drive around Mother’s Day when her mother passed away in 1990. In 1998, Rhonda was selected as the Branford Review Person of the Week.
It was in 1980 that Rhonda decided to open a family daycare in order to spend more time with her daughters. Thus, “Rhonda’s Rompers Family Childcare” was established. To improve her skills as a childcare provider and preschool educator, Rhonda returned to Gateway and earned her Child Development Associates degree. Rhonda’s Rompers program has cared for and educated nearly eight hundred children over the past thirty-five years. Rhonda provides a variety of enrichment activities including instructors who teach yoga, music and sign language. She has a strong sense of community and engages the children to feel the same as they explore the neighborhood and the town. There “field trips” are an example of Rhonda’s philosophy that every day is filled with what she calls “teachable moments”. On walks, children will learn house numbers, letters on street signs and colors. They may visit construction sites learning about various jobs and machinery. There are regular activities such as cooking, involving measuring and counting. She teaches games where they learn about following rules, taking turns, fairness, and sportsmanship. In the spring, they create an organic vegetable garden from seeds they’ve planted indoors. They will cultivate, make vegetable signs and learn the need for water and sun. They’ll take pictures of the growth and eventually enjoy the bounty of their labor.
Rhonda has been a member of many professional organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association for Family Child Care, the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative and is affiliated with the Yale Child Study Program and All Our Kin Association, also a Yale University affiliate and the Second Homes Family Childcare Association where she has held several offices, including president.
The children under her tutelage have thrived and excelled. Rhonda plans to continue educating her children on the importance of being respectful, mindful and productive. Branford is indeed fortunate to have such a dedicated caregiver who provides an extraordinary environment for our young children.