Monday, March 18, 2024

Dr. Lane Ledbetter Named Lone Finalist for Carroll ISD Superintendent of Schools

School Board Selects Former Dragon for Top Post

The Carroll School Board held a special meeting Friday morning to name Dr. Lane Ledbetter as the Lone Finalist for Superintendent of Schools. The vote was unanimous and paves the way for the veteran school leader to return to the place where he began as a Dragon in the third grade and later graduated with the Carroll High School Class of 1989.

“We are excited to welcome a former Dragon back home,” said Board President Michelle Moore. “Dr. Ledbetter impressed us with his knowledge and experience. We felt that he represented much of what our community told us they want in the next leader. He comes highly recommended and seems to truly understand from personal experience what it means to be a Carroll Dragon. As a Board, we believe he is the most capable candidate to lead us forward into the future.”

Dr. Ledbetter has 27 years of total experience in education, the past eight of which were spent serving as a superintendent.  He was first hired as Superintendent in Graham ISD from 2012-2015. For the past five and a half years he has led Midlothian ISD, a fast-growing district of 9,800 students and 1,470 employees. While at Midlothian Dr. Ledbetter helped roll out a 1:1 technology initiative, passed the largest bond program in school history and led the staff and community through the strategic planning process. He is known as a thoughtful and innovative leader with excellent communication skills and experience engaging staff, parents and students in the educational process.

Dr. Ledbetter earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University, his Master of Science in Education from the University of North Texas and his doctorate in educational administration from Baylor University. He taught and coached in Lake Travis, Grapevine-Colleyville and Carroll Independent School Districts before serving 13 years on the leadership team at Birdville ISD. While in Birdville, Dr. Ledbetter served as a secondary principal, administrator of virtual education and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

CISD’s Lone Finalist was chosen from a field of 45 applicants that included 28 sitting superintendents and leaders from 10 different states. Dr. Ledbetter was among five elite candidates chosen to interview with Board Trustees for the vacancy. The search was led by former Texas Education Commissioner Dr. Mike Moses and attorney David Thompson of the Thompson & Horton, LLP Superintendent Search Firm. The search consultants met with several focus groups to help establish a profile for Carroll’s next leader.

Dr. Ledbetter comes from a family of educators. His father is legendary Carroll ISD coach and athletic director Bob Ledbetter, who was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame after building Carroll’s athletic program from a small 3A powerhouse to one of the most recognized high school athletic programs in the nation. Dr. Ledbetter’s mother, Sue, was also a teacher in Carroll ISD for many years until her retirement. His sister, Lori, teaches in the San Antonio area and his wife, Penny is currently a kindergarten teacher in Midlothian.

“I am very excited and humbled to be named the Lone Finalist in Carroll ISD,” Ledbetter said. “The opportunity to return to a community and school district that had such a tremendous impact on me personally as well as my family would be a true honor. It is my experience in Carroll ISD that developed my foundation and instilled in me a desire for excellence.”

He and his wife have three children: Landon, a sophomore in college, Luke, a junior in high school and Lauren, a freshman in high school.

The Carroll School Board’s vote Friday begins a 21-day waiting period required by Texas law. Trustees anticipate calling a special Board meeting December 11 to complete the process. The Board hopes to have the new superintendent begin in January 2021. If approved, Dr. Ledbetter will become only the eighth superintendent of Carroll ISD. He would replace Dr. David J. Faltys who is retiring in December after 15 years leading the district.

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