February 22, 2024— The Lee County Education Foundation, with support from the Worthy Lands Trust, presented McSwain Team Teacher Awards to 12 outstanding elementary teaching teams Wednesday during a reception and ceremony at W.B. Wicker Elementary School.

Education Foundation board members, Lee County Schools leadership, principals and staff from winning schools celebrated the winning teams, which were recognized for demonstrating exceptional growth and proficiency in their team subject. Each team member — 60 in all, most of whom were in attendance — received a certificate of appreciation and a share in the $75,000 monetary prize for exemplary performance as an educator.

Awards were presented in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade reading, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade math, 5th grade science, as well as kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade mCLASS growth and proficiency. 

“The McSwain Awards acknowledge excellence in teacher teams,” said LCEF Chairman Susan Keller. “The winning teams are skilled at collaboration, planning, goal-setting and making learning engaging for their students. The myriad of tools and methods they use every day to move the needle for our students is inspiring, and the LCEF is proud to recognize these elite teams. We are fortunate to have many excellent teachers in Lee County, and the McSwain winners are some of the best.”

“We come together to honor the remarkable achievements of some of our finest educators in the district,” Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Dossenbach said. “Tonight, we celebrate excellence, dedication and passion for teaching that truly defines the heart of our education community.”

Dossenbach said the “unwavering support” of the Education Foundation and the Worthy Lands Trust Foundation has enabled LCS to “nurture talent, foster innovation, and create transformational learning experiences for our students.”

“To our outstanding teachers,” he said, “I offer my heartfelt congratulations and deepest respect. Your passion, dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence inspires all of us to reach higher, to dream bigger, and to never stop believing in the power of education to change lives.”

LCEF founding member Dennis Wicker also spoke, recognizing the success and the excellence of the winning teams and thanking them for their accomplishments. Keller and Foundation President Vicki Haislip presented certificates and a monetary reward.

“As a career educator with Lee County Schools, it is always an honor to recognize educators,” Haislip said. “The Lee County Education Foundation greatly appreciates The McSwain Foundation/Worthy Lands Trust for their support of this award, and enabling us to reward this special group of teachers from six of our elementary schools, for their dedication, passion, and commitment. All of which these teachers and their administrators exemplify on a daily basis.”

Eighteen of the winners shared in the inaugural McSwain Team Teaching awards given just over a year ago.

Winning teams will each have the opportunity to create a short video outlining strategies they used that contributed to their successful year. These videos will then be accessible to all teachers, so the effective strategies are shared and can be utilized by many teachers to benefit more students.

“LCEF is incredibly grateful for the support of the Worthy Land Trust,” Keller said. “Their partnership has allowed us to expand our impact and help elevate the performance of our students.”

The Worthy Lands Trust has partnered with the Foundation over the last three years by providing more than $200,000 in grant funding to benefit each of Lee County’s elementary, middle and high schools, plus Lee Early College.

The Lee County Education Foundation’s vision is to help create an outstanding public school system that graduates students well prepared for the 21st century workplace and success in life. LCEF has provided more than $1 million in financial support to Lee County Schools since its inception in 2003

The winning teams (* denotes previous winners):

3rd Grade Reading

W. B. Wicker

Theicia Allen

Anna Edwards

Christina Maples

Eliza Spruiell

Carrie Summers EC

Natalie Johnson EC

4th Grade Reading

W. B. Wicker

Brittany Babb

Somer Lee

Ryan Stutts

Tabitha Williamson

Kevin Alston EC

5th Grade Reading

Greenwood

*Jennifer Caywood

Eric Doiron

*Ellice Gullett

Jessica Hill

Charlotte Hoffler EC

3rd Grade Math (3-Way Tie)

Greenwood

Candice Bloedorn

Savannah Oldham

Jasmine Chick

Airelle DeLeon

Cindy Currin EC

Deep River

*Shanna Bailey

Olivia Burns

*Nancy Cotton

Tanya Neal

*Cesaleigh Pena

Tramway

Melanie Altman

Morgan Akers

Melanie Hawes

Amanda Holmes

April Richardson

Cassidy Hladky EC

4th Grade Math

Greenwood

Brittany Griffin

*Jackie Roberts

*Stephanie Wilson

Cindy Currin EC

*Charlotte Hoffler EC

*Tanya Charron EC

5th Grade Math

Deep River

Morgan Brinkley

Brandon Morehouse

*Laura Thomas

*Laura Maultsby

Kathryn Bullard EC

5th Science

Edwards

*Dee O'Neal

K Reading (mCLASS)

Bullock

Davis Tatum

*Kim Boggs

*Adriana Del Castillo

*Alicia  Mays

*Sarah Horner

Danielle Potts

1st Grade Reading (mCLASS)

Greenwood

Brittany Fountain

*Misty Brown

Casey Lovick

*Madison Potter

*Elizabeth Olive

Krista Weldon

2nd Grade Reading (mCLASS)

Bullock

Angela Brigham Suits

Dawn Shepard

Hannah Thomas

Ronda Yarborough

January 30, 2024 — “You are all my sparkles,” Deep River Principal Amy Lundy told a gym filled with Deep River students, staff, and community guests as she held up a clear glass ornament filled with multicolor sparkles. “You are different colors and sizes, but all together, we make a beautiful masterpiece.”

Lundy, speaking at Wednesday’s Lee County Education Foundation Head of Class award ceremony, was quick to point out that the success of Deep River’s students and faculty and staff came as the result of well-executed plans and teamwork.

“We have a great staff that perseveres even when it is not easy to do so,” she said. “We set goals and celebrate reaching them. Of course, then I just challenge the teachers and student to set bigger ones!”

Former N.C. Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker, a founding member of the Lee County Education Foundation, addressed students and teachers and challenged them to “pass on the focus and drive to achieve” to others as they move forward.

Lee County Schools Supt. Dr. Chris Dossenbach also spoke, recognizing Lundy’s leadership as instrumental in Deep River’s continued success, noting that this is the third time the school had been recognized as a Head of Class winner.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the students, staff and the entire Deep River family,” Dossenbach said “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Lee County Education Foundation for their continued support, which has played a pivotal role in making this achievement possible. Together, we are shaping the future of education and empowering students for success.”

Several students from Deep River also had the opportunity (and courage) to practice public speaking from the podium. Adriana Horton and Evelyn Steiner welcomed guests and opened the presentation. Deep River Student Council President Dorian Tapia addressed his peers and thanked them for staying focused. Student Council Vice-President Averie Bennet told them all simply to “Keep working hard!”

Assistant Principal Erika McNickle, Lundy’s “right-hand woman,” also took the opportunity to talk about the Deep River “family” and how special a team they have. She shared anecdotes about some of the ups and down of the year and reminded the students and staff how far they have come.

To conclude the celebration, and to loud cheers from all, LCEF Chairwoman Susan Keller and LCEF President Vicki Haislip presented Lundy with a check for $50,000. Deep River gets to house the giant Head of Class Statue for the next year, a daily tangible reminder to everyone there of what they achieved and a motivator for them to continue to work together and stay focused on achieving worthy goals.

“This is always one of my favorite days of the year,” Keller said. “To be able to see all the kids so excited and proud, and for so many to gather and take the time to recognize their hard work and the staff’s hard work — it is just very, very special.”

The Head of Class Award was created by the Foundation in 2010 as a way to formally recognize excellence in Lee County’s elementary schools. It is the first of its kind in North Carolina: a public-private partnership using incentives to enhance achievement in the local schools. It awards $50,000 annually to the faculty and staff of the best performing elementary school in Lee County. Each full-time employee of the winning school receives a portion of the cash award. That includes teachers and administrators, but also librarians, teacher assistants and the full range of school staff members. The award uses many factors, including student growth, to determine the winner.

Education Foundation, Sloan Foundation partner
for Teaching Fellows program

 September 5, 2023 — Lee County high school students interested in pursuing careers as teachers are now eligible for up to $36,000 in college monies through a new program created by the Lee County Education Foundation and The Temple Sloan Family Foundation.

The new Temple Sloan Lee County Teaching Fellows program will award its first set of two “Sloan Scholars” beginning in 2024. The application opens Oct. 1.

LCEF board members recognized the post-Covid recruiting difficulties faced by Lee County Schools. That began an effort to find funding to create a program that would encourage Lee County’s best and brightest students to commit to becoming an educator, and to return home and begin a career in a classroom.

The Raleigh-based Sloan Foundation quickly stepped up to do just that.

“The Temple Sloan Family Foundation is proud to partner with the Lee County Foundation in providing the Sloan Lee County Teaching Fellows Scholarship,” said Temple Sloan Jr., a former Sanford resident who founded Carquest Auto Parts in 1961. “These scholarships will be given to deserving young students to inspire them to earn a teaching degree and encourage them to work in the Lee County school system. We firmly believe that a successful educational experience for our young people begins with outstanding teachers.”

As a leader in the auto parts supply business, Carquest grew to 3,000 auto parts stores, including about 1,300 company-owned stores which employed more than 14,000 people. Carquest was acquired by Advance Auto Parts in 2014.

 Mr. Sloan founded The Temple Sloan Family Foundation in 1994. Today, it provides constructive support and grants to many organizations — notably scholarships based on merit and financial need to students pursuing undergraduate degrees.

Temple Sloan III, who helped grow the family business and is active on the Sloan Foundation board, will join the Lee County Education Foundation board.

As part of a larger program LCEF is developing alongside Lee County Schools and Central Carolina Community College, the scholarships will take the form of forgivable loans — similar to the process used in the statewide N.C. Teaching Fellows program. Scholarship recipients are expected to return to Lee County to teach; and all monies are forgiven after four years of teaching in a Lee County public school classroom.

In pursuing a teaching degree, Sloan Scholars may attend any state-supported college or university in pursuit of their teaching certificate.

In addition to $4,500 per semester in scholarship funds, the program will also include partnerships with teaching mentors, summer programming, and a variety of activities designed to engage Sloan Scholars with LCS and support their commitment to Lee County’s students and community.

Dennis Wicker, a founding board member of the Education Foundation, said the shortage of public school teachers in Lee County and across the state is well-documented.

“The Temple Sloan Teaching Fellows Program will have a tremendous impact in providing ‘home grown’ quality teachers here,” he said. “There is no doubt that such Program will enhance the performance of our future students. A heartfelt thanks to the Sloan family for their overwhelming generosity and support for their native Lee County. Also, deserving applause to CCCC and the Lee County Schools for partnering with the Foundation on this scholarship.”

LCEF Chairman Susan Keller — a member of the inaugural class of the N.C. Teaching Fellows program — agreed.

“A teacher shortage is perhaps the biggest challenge faced by our public schools,” Keller said. “Encouraging students to go into this rewarding and important field and incentivizing them to come back home is a game-changer.”

The $4,500 per semester will be awarded to help pay for tuition, fees, and books. Students are expected to provide progress reporting and other information to the CCCC Foundation, which will be managing the scholarship monies. Should a student drop out of the program or decide not to return and teach in Lee County, monies will have to be repaid.

The inaugural Sloan Teaching Fellows application opens Oct. 1 and closes Feb. 15.