Courtney Ledbetter’s connection to Monarch began long before her first day on January 21, 2000. Her mother, Lisa Kirk, worked with the then-Arch out of Albemarle, introducing Courtney to the world of behavioral health and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
This exposure not only left an imprint, but it was also a driving force in Courtney’s decision to get into healthcare and start her journey at Monarch. Now, Courtney finds herself celebrating 26 years with the company, where she serves as a Developmental Specialist Vocational at Stanly Industrial Services (SIS) in Albemarle.
“She’s one that’s very dependable. She’s one that’s always got a smile [on her face],” said SIS Site Manager Antwain Hamilton. “She comes in the door, she’s smiling, she’s greeting and if she can tell when somebody else isn’t, she’s going to try to go ask what’s going on. She’s very mindful of the surroundings of the guys.”
This includes Sara Smoak, who she assists with everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping, reading and writing and now, managing money.
“I work with Sara. Sara is very well known, and we can go to Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby, Food Lion, anywhere in Stanly County and they’re going to know Sara Smoak. They’re going to know Courtney is with Sara Smoak.”
The ultimate goal for Courtney is to help Sara move towards independence, but it’s the little things that she wants to celebrate on that journey. Courtney recently witnessed Sara pay for her groceries on her own and improve her writing skills, a small but meaningful step.
“I made it a big highlight, because I was very proud of her for doing that,” said Ledbetter. “That may seem very small to somebody else, but where I work and what I do, that was a big accomplishment for her.”
Her impact on the Albemarle community doesn’t stop there. Courtney was responsible for, and the catalyst of, SIS’s Christmas program in December. Members of the day program performed an abridged version of ‘The Christmas Carol,’ all in part of her efforts behind the scenes.
Her effort and attention to detail did not go unnoticed by Hamilton, who has been alongside Ledbetter throughout her tenure.
“Courtney was the one who really worked her butt off to put that [Christmas program] on. I’m gonna just be honest, dealing with people [and] that many different personalities is hard, trying to get guys to do certain things. And she just took it on. She made sure she respected them, she made sure she put them in place. She made sure that they were getting what they wanted to enjoy.”
It was a rewarding experience for Courtney, who has been a mainstay at Monarch and seen the blossoming of hundreds of individuals with I/DD. Throughout her time, she’s not only helped others gain independence and improve their quality of life, but also learned lessons from the people she serves.
And to her, there’s one that stands out above the rest: have patience.
“Make sure you have patience, because every person supported is different and is on a different level,” said Ledbetter. “Have patience, have an open mind and come in with a smile.”
It’s the way she approaches each day at SIS, tailoring her care to the individuals she serves. She can be referred to as the unofficial Swiss army knife, taking on roles when needed, such as baker, director and cheerleader.
She’s been there for members of the day program on their worst days, their best days and every day in between. It’s taught her that we’re all more alike than we are different, something she wishes others outside the I/DD community recognized more often.
For 26 years, Courtney Ledbetter has served the community and supported the people who walk through the doors of SIS each day. What began years ago has grown into a lasting commitment, one she continues to show through her care, consistency and heart for the work each day on Greenwood Street in Albemarle.
“What makes me proud [is] knowing that I got a good team backing me, a good supervisor and I enjoy doing what I do. I enjoy coming here. Yes, it’s work, but we do so many different things in the community and try to make it fun, be outgoing and stay motivated. It’s just making it fun, making it not just for me, but for them. Everybody wants to go somewhere and work somewhere where you all get along and have people backing you and supporting you.”
If you are interested in learning more about roles similar to Courtney’s, visit our careers page to see open positions.