Skip To Content

Kelly Butterworth selected for Hamilton Relay 2012 Deaf Community Leader Award for the State of Rhode Island

September, 10 2012

Kelly is a highly dedicated person very well known in the Rhode Island Deaf community. Although she is often described as someone of few words, "no" is rarely one of them. Though her official role is as the Athletic Director at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf (RSID), Kelly takes on a variety of other charges, including media specialist, Librarian, Sub Teacher, and coach. In addition, she serves as a key advocate for the children in the school, especially at the high school level.

Kelly spends much of her free time volunteering to ensure RSID programs are successful. Her role promoting events like 5K and Golf Fundraisers helped raise money so kids could attend summer camp. She has also organized after school activities in which students are able to play a multitude of different activities, often competing against the Learning Center and RISD faculty and staff. Kelly never forgets helpful little details like ensuring each child has transportation to athletic activities since this is not provided by the school.

Kelly is known for her devotion to the students she serves, encouraging them to be successful in their academics as well as athletics. She has helped coordinate several large-scale events designed to bring people together; including the ESDAA Track and Field Tourney of 2011 and ESDAA Division 2 Boys Basketball Tourney of 2012.

Kelly's peers describe her as very open and willing to share her own challenges with children to encourage them to set goals and challenge them. Eight years ago Kelly fought a successful battle against cancer, only to find out this past September that it had returned. Even while undergoing difficult medical treatment, Kelly continues her work at RISD, smiling through the pain she is experiencing. A smile that serves as an inspiration to her students and community.

This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.

About Hamilton Relay
Hamilton Relay offers a variety of services including Telecommunications Relay Services, Captioned Telephone and Internet Relay services. Hamilton provides Telecommunications Relay and/or Captioned Telephone services to 16 states, the Island of Saipan and the Virgin Islands. More information is available at hamiltonrelay.com.

Live Chat is available during the following hours:

Monday – Friday:
8:30 AM to 12:30 AM Eastern

Saturday, Sunday:
11:00 AM to 6:30 PM Eastern