Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karen (kary) Ledbetter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Karen (Kary), thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

As a mother, stepmother, and foster mother, I hope my legacy will be adults who know they were loved and valued as children and that they continue to be the most essential part of my life. Much of my poetry has been written for my children.

I want people to say that I continued to grow and that, like Kipling’s satiable elephant’s child, I was constantly questioning and excited to learn. Things in life are not always perfect, but they are continually surprising!

I want to be remembered for sparking a desire to know in others and for always having a hug and a good meal available.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up after WWII with parents who were the first of their families to attend college. Education has always been a hallmark of our family. My childhood was full of music, museums, family events, and education. Mom, wearied of our being bored, made us read encyclopedias and sections of the dictionary when we complained of nothing to do. As an adult, I am rarely bored and find words and ideas fascinating!

My father was a nuclear engineer, so we had the opportunity to live in many places, experience different cultures and traditions, and see the value of all types of people. My mother went back to school after I left for college and became a teacher of gifted and talented children. I have had the opportunity to work with my father as a nuclear project administrator and with my mother as a K-12 teacher. I have always had my foot in business and education as I raised nine children and numerous foster kids. Of course, ADHD is a given in our family, and, of course, boredom is to be avoided.

Education continues to be a significant part of my life. There is always something new to learn. Three years ago I completed my second doctorate, and last year I learned to drive a school bus. Crafting, reading, and writing are my pastimes, but my favorite thing to do is spend time with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Being with them reminds me of the fun of family and the joys of parenting. I continue to write poetry and technical materials – a stretch for the mind.

I am most proud of my children and their offspring. I am constantly amazed at the variety of their talents, their kindness and concern for others, and their impact on the world. They are nurses, policemen, social workers, counselors, teachers, students, and wonderful parents. Most of all, they are mine!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As a newly divorced mother in the 70s, I had to find a way to support my family. I went back to college to complete a teaching degree. Sadly, just as I finished my credentials, the market for teachers in California changed and I was unable to find a position. I went to work as an administrative clerk for an engineering firm. By leveraging my communication and organizational skills, I was able to move up to a position as a nuclear project administrator. One of my responsibilities was to work as the admin for a conference of nuclear professionals. An attendee at the conference was working to develop distance education programs, and I, coincidentally, made contact with him and eventually combined my teaching skills to work with his organization using both business and academic abilities. Many years later, I have doctorates in both education and business and continue to work in a position that overlaps both disciplines as the Dean for Curriculum for William Howard Taft University.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a girl, I was shy. My favorite thing to do was hide in a tree and read—something I did often. I later learned I had social anxiety and difficulty speaking up for myself. Fortunately, my parents determined that I needed to be able to talk to people and made me take speech and drama lessons using trips to the bookstore as a bribe. As an adult, life taught me lessons that required me to make business presentations, promote my work, and be mouthy. Although I dislike speaking in public, I have learned to do so. The written word is still my preferred mode of communication but I can, and do, speak when necessary.