Douglas, Derr named 2026 Sloan Scholars- Each receives up to $36,000 in scholarships to earn teaching degrees, then return to Lee County Schools as educators
June 4, 2026
SANFORD — One was inspired by a mother who has devoted her career to teaching and by the impact her own teachers had on her life.
The other watched students return years later to thank her own educator mother for the difference she made in their lives — and then realized she wanted to have that same impact on future generations.
Darah Douglas and Isabella Derr, both 2026 graduates of Lee Early College, have been recognized by the Lee County Education Foundation as the 2026 recipients of the Temple Sloan Lee County Teaching Fellows Scholarship.
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BEYOND THE BELL- New after-school program targets literacy at its most critical stage
April 2, 2026
Sanford— By the time they reach 3rd grade, students are no longer learning to read. They’re reading to learn.
For those whose reading skills fall behind early on, catching up becomes increasingly difficult — and without meaningful intervention, statistically unlikely.
Through a new after-school initiative called Beyond the Bell, the Lee County Education Foundation is funding a targeted, data-driven tutorial program designed to help early elementary students build the foundational literacy skills that will shape their academic futures.
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Education Foundation renews Durable Skills Project
November, 2025
Sanford- Employers, when hiring, have overwhelmingly asked applicants to come to the job prepared.
The Lee County Education Foundation, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina, is renewing its effort to make sure middle school students in Lee County get a head start on that count.
The Lee County Education Foundation, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina, is renewing its effort to make sure middle school students in Lee County get a head start on that count.
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2024-25 ELEMENTARY ‘HEAD OF CLASS’
February 23, 2026
BROADWAY— Since 1885, through six different buildings and two devastating fires, resiliency has been a hallmark of schools serving the town of Broadway.
Wendy Perrell, Broadway Elementary School’s principal, told staff, students and community members Monday that this sense of resiliency was part of the foundation helping it earn “Head of Class” status in Lee County.
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Broadway’s ‘Head of Class’ win proof that effort, growth and perseverance matter
January 6, 2026
SANFORD — For second-year Principal Wendy Perrell, Broadway Elementary School’s recognition as this year’s “Head of Class” winning elementary school represents more than a significant achievement.
More meaningful, Perrell says, is that it’s the culmination of years of steady work and collective commitment.
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How do our schools use data to improve student performance?
January, 2026
SANFORD— Why is it advantageous to incorporate student data when developing specific teaching strategies? What insights does data provide that makes it useful in the classroom? Stefanie Clarke, the executive director for Accountability, Planning, & Performance of Lee County Schools, shares why.
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