Rita Butler was born and raised in Chicago where she has lived for most of her life. Rita earned a degree in Finance from Northeastern Illinois University. She worked in both insurance and banking industries, as well as volunteering with local community service groups. When her children entered school, she volunteered numerous hours in the PTO and most recently has worked as a substitute teacher. Wanting to offer her children the chance to experience scouting, Rita gradually became a full-time volunteer and her love and appreciation for the outdoors began. During this time, she became merit badge counselor for a variety of badges, as well as an archery range officer. In taking her scouts on outdoor adventures, they discovered many wonders of the environment, including the thousands of stars viewed on a clear night. Rita earned a Masters in Teaching from National Louis University in 2017 and is now teaching Science at Dundee Crown High School near Chicago.