Mrs. Debra Ledbetter, Campus Director 

Living most of her life and graduating High School from Sterling City, Debra Ledbetter – TLCA Principal of K-2^nd Grades, was able to experience many life lessons through academics and athletics.   In 1979, she began her college education here in San Angelo at ASU.  Mrs. Ledbetter graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1983 and soon began her teaching career.

            Starting in her own hometown, Mrs. Ledbetter spent the next 18 years teaching in Sterling City and then moved to Ballinger and taught 8 years there.

  In 2009, she and her husband felt the call to move to San Angelo and help start TLCA.  This was a very exciting adventure to step out in faith and begin a new chapter in their lives. 

            As a teacher, Mrs. Ledbetter’s experience includes twenty-seven years in the classroom.  Twenty-four of those were spent serving Kindergarten and First Grade students.  She has spent the last six years as a Reading Interventionist and then Dean of Academics for the TLCA Elementary campus.

            “I have always enjoyed teaching and seeing the students learn and grow.  It has been and will always be my desire to make a difference in the lives of our children and their families as well as our TLCA staff.  I have been blessed by my experiences and will strive to help make TLCA a positive learning environment for each and every student. “

Mrs. Crystella Morales,  3rd Grade -6th Grade Principal 

                Born and raised in the small town of Lamesa, Texas, I value community and church life.  Growing up, I have experienced every sort of educational setting imaginable.  From public schools to private Christian schools, to homeschooling with and without a support group.  From my experiences, I have learned that education can happen in any setting.   Whether learning happens or not mostly depends on the attitudes and habits of the learner.

            In high school, I excelled academically and dreamed of going to college.  But upon walking across the stage, I entered the world of employment.  My family was not able to send me to college.  Having never pursued higher education themselves, they were unaware of the possibilities and resources available.  I worked for the next ten years, lived at home, and contributed to the family.  I worked for five years in a local printing company and the next five years as the Warden’s Secretary for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Preston E. Smith Unit.

            In my last year of working at the prison, I met my husband, David Morales, who was a parole officer.  I resigned from my position, married David, and moved to San Angelo.  David insisted that I go to college.  I was almost 30 years old when I began to live out my dream of going to college. 

For me, stepping onto a college campus was a great privilege and honor.  I felt so blessed to be able to pursue a degree.  I worked very hard during this time.  Not only was I going to college full-time, but also growing a family.  During my six years of college, David and I had three children.  Aside from marrying David, having my three beautiful children was the best thing that ever happened!  During this time I also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a 3.7 GPA and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a 3.9 GPA.

           I decided to pursue a career in education because I have always cared about how children learn.  Having children of my own, I knew that education would consume at least the next 20 years of my life.  I wanted to make a difference.  I believe that I am having a positive daily impact on kids.  Sometimes the interactions are disciplinary in nature, but love is at the heart of everything I do.