At Butler College Prep, our families are more than just part of the school—they are the heartbeat of our community. We believe that education is a shared journey—one that thrives when parents, staff, and students walk together. In this parent spotlight, we sit down with one of Butler’s most involved parents: Erin Kelley-Austin. Mom to rising junior, Aaron, and recently graduated senior, Lem, she recounts the power of “showing up”.

My mom. She was never a classroom teacher, but she taught me everything. She’s wise, honest, and loving. She didn’t sugarcoat anything, but every lesson came from a place of love. There is honestly no specific time in my life that my mom has not inspired me because she’s never stopped inspiring me. She’s been there since day one— when I missed half my preschool years and some of kindergarten, when I was out for asthma (that we didn’t know I had) and got sick and went to the hospital. She’s been my biggest inspiration since I can remember because she never gave up; she just kept at it. She taught me how to be a better woman, mom, and person. I carry that same mindset into raising my boys—I want them to know I’m here, I’m present, and I’ve got their backs, just like she had mine.

I worked for the City of Chicago for 16 years until I was laid off. This experience showed me that no matter what I did within that 16 years, people never really saw Erin… they only saw who I worked for. Losing my job broke me mentally, but I had a praying mom who didn’t stop praying, and that just made my faith in God even better. It’s never been a time that I wasn’t there for my boys, but losing my job gave me the chance to be even more present in my sons’ lives during high school. I see it as a blessing—I had more time to walk beside them on their journey. That really helped them with their work. It helped them stay on top so they could be the best kids that I already knew they were. With my mom and God, it’s nothing that I wouldn’t do for them because I became that prayer. My kids inspire me to keep being the best mom that I know how to be.

Right now, Butler is my community. I do decorating jobs here and there for parties, weddings, etc. My job is solely to make sure my boys have everything that I didn’t have in high school and make sure that they’re happy. My focus is on my boys and the school that supports them. But even after they graduate, I’ll still be a part of this community because Butler has my heart. If they ever need me, I’ll be there.

It’s been amazing. Over the past four years, my son has had wonderful teachers. I respect the work they do and support them fully. They spend eight hours a day with my child— if I don’t have their back, how can I expect them to have his? I chose Butler because of the atmosphere. There are teachers he can talk to when he feels like he can’t talk to me. That support system helped him excel, and that happened because I was right there with him and with the staff every step of the way.

I’m always in communication. I don’t wait for report card pick-up. If I need to walk into a classroom midday, I will. I’m that parent who shows up because I don’t want my boys to be a statistic. I’m at the games. I’m in the hallways. Everyone at Butler knows I’ll be there—rain, sleet, or snow—and they know I’m giving 150%.

I’ve been to every PAC (Parent Advisory Council) meeting since my boys started at Butler. I don’t miss them because I want to know what’s going on. PAC meetings have kept me informed and helped me meet the parents of my sons’ classmates… and I get to run into some of my favorite teachers sometimes… I can speak to them or talk to the principal (who’s very approachable). I love the staff and the principal—he always makes time to talk. Even if my son doesn’t keep me informed, I’m there, having conversations and staying connected.

My boys. They need me, and I need the school to know who I am. I want teachers to know what I stand for—what I will and won’t accept. I’m not just dropping my kids off and hoping for the best. I answer calls, I FaceTime during class if needed, and I stay involved because I value education above all. I was always told that’s the one thing people cannot take from you— as long as you’re educated, there’s nothing you can’t do in this world.

Kelley-Austin’s story is more than a testimony—it’s a blueprint for how powerful it can be when schools and families work hand in hand. Butler’s assistant dean of students and parent advocacy & community engagement representative, Nichole Jefferson, deeply appreciates the parents like Kelley-Austin who show up and would love to see more parents get involved.

“It’s inspiring to have a parent who’s involved in all aspects of her children’s lives… I appreciate Ms. Kelley-Austin’s involvement because she attends every PAC where she engages with the workshop, asks questions, and helps other parents… Having parents like her makes it easier for everyone to do their part.” Jefferson said.