Began his career as a high school social studies teacher at the school from which he had graduated in Brinkley, AR. From there he worked for the boards of education in Flint, MI, Bronx, NY, and finally Dallas, TX as a teacher and coordinator of special programs. After serving one year as assistant principal at B. F. Darrell, he was promoted to principal of W. W. Bushman. Additionally, he served as principal of T. W. Browne M. S., Adelle Turner, A. S. Johnston and Cedar Hill H. S. While principal at Johnston, the school was recognized by the Dallas Foundation and DISD (1996-2002) for School Improvement Performance. Butler's Reading Well was named in his honor at A. S. Johnston.