In Butler County Schools, learning is at its best when curiosity, creativity, and community come together. This year, a long-standing tradition of artistic storytelling grew into a powerful example of what students can achieve when they collaborate across grade levels and schools. The Monster Doll project, an imaginative partnership between Morgantown Elementary School (MES) first graders and advanced visual art students at Butler County High School (BCHS), has become a shining model of authentic learning, student leadership, and community connection.

The project was highlighted by Stoye Young, Principal at Butler County High School. Young shared how the collaborative effort reflects multiple pillars of Butler’s Portrait framework, noting that “the communication, the collaboration, the problem solving, the global citizenship… it is all there. The teachers and students were amazing!”

While the project touches every Portrait of a Learner pillar, Collaboration stands out as the central force behind its success. Students, teachers, and community partners united across schools, grade levels, and even generations to produce something truly meaningful for young learners in Butler County.

A Creative Tradition, Expanded

The Monster Doll project has been a part of Butler County High School for more than a decade. It began as a collaboration with art teacher Leslyn Rushing in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, and later expanded with Kassie Decker at North Butler Elementary. For the first time this year, the project partnered with Morgantown Elementary, marking a significant milestone as the program continues to grow.

What started small has now evolved into a districtwide celebration of creative problem-solving and mentorship. BCHS students once again stepped into roles as designers, creators, and leaders, but this time, they did so for a new group of young learners eager to bring their imaginations to life.

Learning Together, Step by Step

The process unfolded in several purposeful stages, with each step reinforcing essential skills from the Portrait of a Learner:

1. Shared Reading & Idea Development - BCHS advanced visual art students traveled to MES to read a monster-themed children’s story to first graders. Working in small groups, they helped the younger students brainstorm and practice drawing their own “personal monsters.” This early interaction fostered communication skills and built trust between the age groups.

2. First Graders Became Designers - Under the guidance of MES art teacher Nikkie Hayes, first graders developed detailed monster drawings and wrote descriptive information about their creations. Their ideas became the blueprint for the next step of the project.

3. High School Students Brought Imagination to Life - Using the first graders’ sketches and descriptions, BCHS students applied problem-solving, perseverance, and artistic skill to transform 2D drawings into hand-sewn, three-dimensional Monster Dolls. Each doll required interpretation, creativity, and collaboration. Students then wrote postcards describing the playful adventures they imagined their monsters having before being delivered to their new owners.

4. A Heartfelt Delivery - In the final stage, BCHS students returned to MES to personally present each Monster Doll. They read their postcards aloud, sparking joy and pride in the first graders who saw their ideas transformed into real creations. This celebratory moment embodied the Portrait pillars of Character, Communication, and Global Citizenship as students honored one another’s creativity and effort.

A Project That Spans Generations

One of the most meaningful full-circle moments this year came from the long history of the Monster Doll initiative. Some of the high school students who created dolls this semester were among the first elementary students to receive dolls nearly a decade ago. Now, they are giving back by continuing the cycle of creativity, mentorship, and learning.

The project has also grown substantially. What once produced around 60–75 dolls now yielded an incredible 102 finished dolls for MES students. This growth was made possible thanks to dedicated teachers, thoughtful planning, and generous support from families and community partners including Darlene Scott, MES PTO, YSC, and others who donated materials.

Collaboration at the Heart of Butler County Schools

The Monster Doll project brings the Collaboration pillar of the Portrait of a Learner to life, showing how students, staff, and the community came together with a shared purpose.

Cross-school partnerships like this strengthen relationships, enrich learning, and highlight how students of all ages can uplift one another. The intentional connections built between high school and elementary students create mentorship opportunities, foster empathy, and deepen the sense of belonging across the district.

This project also showcases how the Portrait of a Learner framework moves beyond classroom walls. Through this work, students engaged in an effort that brought joy to others, fostered meaningful teamwork, and broadened their understanding of creative collaboration’s impact.

Looking Ahead

Butler County Schools is proud to celebrate this exemplary story of collaboration and creativity. The Monster Doll project represents the best of what can happen when educators empower students as leaders and creators, when schools work together, and when learning becomes a shared experience across the district.

As this tradition continues to expand, we look forward to seeing even more students discover their strengths, connect with peers across schools, and contribute to a vibrant learning community.

Together, we remain one team with one vision that makes us Butler Strong.