Maggie B. Lewis-Butler Bio

Mrs. Maggie B. Lewis-Butler was born in Brewton, Alabama and spent her formative years in Pensacola, Florida. She received her B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from Florida A&M University along with completing further studies at Florida State University.  Mrs. Lewis-Butler taught science in the Leon County School District for 30 years. In 1996, she retired from the classroom and was elected to the Leon County School Board as the representative for District 3. She was the first African-American female to serve as chair of the Leon County School Board the most times during her 22 distinguished years.  As a lifelong educator and leader, Mrs. Lewis-Butler’s most notable accomplishments include ensuring all students had access to resources/technology to receive a quality education in a safe environment; leading the effort to build the new Bond Elementary School; promoting collaboration between Board Colleagues along with parents, teachers, support staff, the community and business partners to achieve common goals; instrumental in securing approval for funding to upgrade James S. Rickards High School to a state of the arts school; and lobbying for policies/programs to increase the graduation rate. Leon County School System is in the “Top 10” School Districts in the state based on graduation rate. 

She serves or has served as a leader and/or board member with several community organizations, including Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (Lifetime Member), Tallahassee Urban League Association, NAACP (Lifetime Member), Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend, FAMU Alumni Association (Lifetime Member), Riley House Museum, Tallahassee Chapter of National Hook-up of Black Women, Tallahassee Area Coalition Center of Excellence, and Commission of African-American Taskforce for the State of Florida.  Mrs. Lewis-Butler has been recognized for her humanitarian efforts and received numerous awards, including NAACP Community Service Award, Tallahassee Community College Women's History Month Award, Florida Public Service Commission LifeLine Leader, Tallahassee Democrat “25 Women You Need to Know”, FAMU College of Education Gallery of Distinction, Tallahassee Urban League Legend Award, and NAACP Civil Rights Hall of Fame Inductee Award.  In January 2019, Maggie Lewis-Butler received the Black History Firsts in Education and Sports Award.  She received the Hope Award in recognition of helping families and the community practice empowerment and was a recipient of the Aquilina C. Howell Award by the Tallahassee Urban League. Also, in June 2019, Mrs. Lewis-Butler received the Nehemiah Award in recognition of her dedication, leadership and years of distinguished service in the community.

In November 2021, Leon County School Board dedicated the Maggie B. Lewis-Butler Science Building at James S. Rickards High School.

Mrs. Maggie Lewis-Butler, for her entire career as a classroom teacher, a School Board member, and a community leader, has made substantial contributions to public education in Leon County.

Mrs. Lewis-Butler is married to Rev. Dr. Robert M. Butler, Jr., has four children and is lovingly known as “Nana” by her grand and great-grandchildren. She is a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and enjoys traveling, reading, public speaking and sharing her time/talents to help others in her community.