March 2024 STEEL Awards: Beverly Ledbetter

Beverly Ledbetter - Saegert Elementary substitute teacher
Saegert Elementary School substitute teacher Beverly Ledbetter confirmed they were shocked to receive the surprise visits.
Senior district leaders joined a communications department team, the Education Foundation, campus principals and other supporters to present the monthly honor.
Similar to Lizama, Ledbetter said it is her own children who motivate her career in education.
She started working as a substitute last year and continues this year, focusing mainly at Saegert Elementary School, where her youngest child attends.
With three school-age students, she wanted to get back in the workforce and to work hours and days consistent with her children.
“I love being a sub. It’s fun. It changes every day. It’s great. I love being in my kid’s school. Saegert is fantastic. It feels warm and accepting.”
Ledbetter was reading to her students in the library when a crowd of well-wishers interrupted.
“It was very surprising. It was a shock. It’s humbling to be pointed out. I feel like I’m the lucky one to be in the classroom and fill a gap when it needs to be filled. It’s the teachers who should be getting the award,” she said.
Besides giving Ledbetter a paycheck and added time in her children’s schools, she has learned the deep sacrifices teachers make.
“I think subbing has taught me that children are more capable than most people think. It has showed me how hard teachers work. It is incredible what these teachers do, the progress students make,” she said.
“It has showed me a lot about how dedicated and hardworking teachers are and how much they give personally for their students.”
Any KISD employee can nominate any other KISD employee for a STEEL Award.
The actual awards are fabricated in the district’s Career Center welding bays and finished in the automotive paint shop.
Stories and videos about previous winners are posted at the following:
www.killeenisd.org/steel