NATCHEZ — Fred Butcher knows one key ingredient to creating a successful community is a good educational system.

So when Natchez-Adams School District officials approached Butcher in May about taking over the helm of Natchez High School, the former principal jumped at the chance.

“Great communities are centered around churches, schools and families,” Butcher said. “Without those things, people don’t want to come to your community and it becomes difficult to keep people here.

“I knew taking over Natchez High was going to be a challenge, but I always like a challenge.”

Butcher’s work at the high school since he was named principal in May earned him the title of NASD’s 2014 Administrator of the Year, a title given to him by his peers.

“I really wasn’t expecting it because I had only been on the job for four and-a-half months,” Butcher said, laughing. “I feel blessed and thankful that everyone has bought into what we’re trying to do here.”

Butcher’s goal for the high school is to move it two grade levels higher on the state’s accountability ranking system. The school received an “F” rating in September, but hopefully for the last time, Butcher said.

“What we’re doing is making sure teachers are preparing the students for what’s ahead of them,” Butcher said. “We try not to emphasize the testing that accounts for that change, because if you teach the kids what they need to know, the rest will take care of itself.”

A native of Concordia Parish, Butcher spent 24 years as principal at Ferriday High School before being named NASD athletic director.

He served in that capacity until being named NHS principal in May.

Butcher’s “turn it around” attitude eventually landed him a nickname around the school’s campus — Lil’ Joe.

The name refers to Joe Louis Clark, an inner-city high school principal from New Jersey who’s story was told in the 1989 feature film “Lean On Me.”

NHS senior Cartrell Smith said the nickname is one students gravitated toward when they realized Butcher’s passion for helping improve the school.

“That’s what everyone calls him behind-the-scenes, because he is very serious about his job of making this school better,” Smith said. “At first, it was a little intimidating, but when I realized what he was doing and that it would help us in the long run, I knew he was doing it for a good reason.”

NHS math teacher and head football coach Lance Reed said the attitude of change Butcher brought to the table took time to get used to for some.

But Reed said he welcomed it into his classroom.

“Mr. Butcher is the ultimate professional and is one of those educators who is in this job for all the right reasons — to help the kids,” Reed said. “Change is always difficult at first, but when everyone began understanding what he expected from them it all made sense.”

NASD Superintendent Frederick Hill said the district is fortunate to have as strong educator and leader at the helm of the high school.

“Under (Butcher’s) leadership, we see positive things happening this year and expect improvements by the end of this school year,” Hill said.

Butcher said it was getting that buy in from the staff and students at the school that was the biggest challenge for him at first.

“I knew if I could just get the staff to buy in, then the parents would buy in and then the students,” Butcher said. “Everyone has been more than cooperative.”

But Butcher said it was ultimately his wife who deserved most of the credit for receiving the recognition.

“The real thanks goes to my wife, who put up with my being a principal again,” Butcher said with a smile. “I’ve always said as long as I enjoy what I’m doing, I’ll keep doing it, but that’s not a decision my wife agrees with sometimes.”