December 2, 2024 – Rosenberg, Texas – Rosenberg, Texas – Lamar CISD celebrated the opening of Steenbergen Middle School – its newest middle school campus and the only new middle school opening this year – with a special presentation and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the campus on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Steenbergen is the fourth new Lamar CISD campus to open for the 2024-2025 school year. Three new elementary campuses have already been dedicated at ceremonies earlier in the semester.
The new campus honors James Everett Steenbergen, a Kentucky native who moved with his family to Texas as a teenager and left a big mark on his adopted state, graduating from Plano High School before studying mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University and working for more than 30 years with Union Carbide.
Steenbergen’s love for education inspired him to get involved in local schools and children’s advocacy organizations, which eventually led to him being elected as a member of the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees in 2015. During his tenure, he served three years as president and helped lead the board to coveted Texas Honor Board status – leaving behind an indelible mark on the district and many of its students and staff.
“James Steenbergen left a powerful legacy in this district, representing his community with pride on the school board and pouring life daily into the staff and students of the district,” Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens said. “He is fondly remembered by many for his willingness to step up or lend a hand to those in need. It’s fitting that his legacy will live on at the school that now bears his name.”
Attendees at the ribbon-cutting event included more than 40 members of the extended Steenbergen family and family friends, many of whom expressed gratitude at witnessing the opening of the school named in Steenbergen’s honor.
“Thank you for allowing me to be here and share the incredible honor of taking part in the dedication of Steenbergen Middle School,” son Michael Steenbergen said during his address.
“If you knew my dad, you knew that this was something he never really wanted – in fact, there was talk about naming a school after him when he was alive, but he refused,” Steenbergen said. “Of course, he was proud of the things he accomplished, but he did them to help people, not for any kind of recognition.”
Joining the new school as principal is Ben Perez, who brings more than 27 years of experience in education, including three years as a paraprofessional, four years as a teacher, four years as an assistant principal, two years as a math/science specialist, and 14 years as a principal.
“I had the honor of knowing Mr. Steenbergen during his time on the school board,” Perez told attendees during his remarks. “He was a remarkable individual who made a point of visiting various campus events, including my own. His personal touch was saying hello at events to engage in meaningful conversations.”
The new school’s principal also summed up a theme echoed by many attendees at the ceremony who knew the former trustee and benefited from his generosity, guidance, mentorship and support for others.
“When I think of Steenbergen,” Perez said, “the word that really comes to my mind is – community.”
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