March 11, 2025

SANFORD — Back in 2010, when the then-7-year-old Lee County Education Foundation launched its “Head of Class” program, the focus was squarely on Lee County’s elementary schools.

The research-based rationale: building a strong academic foundation in elementary-aged students was the best way to help guarantee later academic successes. That Head of Class award, a unique teacher incentive which included a $50,000 cash prize for the winning school, has since been awarded 11 times, most recently on Jan. 29 — to J. Glenn Edwards Elementary…

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February 13, 2025

SANFORD, NC — Wendy Wicker Phillips, who spent much of her 30-year career as an educator at Deep River Elementary School, has been named the executive director of the Lee County Education Foundation.

In the newly created position, Phillips will serve as a public-facing advocate to help LCEF collaborate and partner with the greater Lee County community and Lee County Schools to fulll the Foundation’s mission — that of helping to create an outstanding school system that graduates students well-prepared for the 21st century workplace and success in life…

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January 13, 2025

SANFORD — Back in 2014, in the early days of the Lee County Education Foundation’s “Head of Class” project, J. Glenn Edwards Elementary became the first — and so far the only — school to win the award in consecutive years. 

The school hasn’t won since. 

So when Emily Mize became principal there in 2022, winning again became a priority and one of her primary goals. ..

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