LCEF Board Profile FRANK PROCTOR
July 8, 2026
‘I deeply love the public education system in Lee County, which profoundly shaped who I am today. And as my career journey shows, I have tried to incorporate education into different stages of my life to keep up with changes in the world.’
Educational influences
I attended public schools in Lee County throughout my K-12 years, graduating from Lee County High School in 1981. Most of the schools I attended are still being used today, although they serve different grade levels: I attended Warren Williams when it was an elementary school, W.B. Wicker when it was a middle school, and West Lee when it was a junior high school.
One of the experiences that most shaped me in high school was participating in a program called Close Up, led by our U.S. History teacher, Nancy Cope. Mrs. Cope took a group of us to Washington, D.C., for a week of in-depth study of our federal government. It was a fascinating experience. I attended the Close Up program two years in a row.
After I graduated from Lee County High School, I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and majored in history. During the summer after my sophomore year, I studied abroad on a UNC program at the University of London, and took extra time to travel around Europe. It was a remarkable, eye-opening experience to see first-hand the places that I had been reading about in my history books. That summer ignited my interest in spending more time studying overseas. After graduating from UNC, I decided to study international relations at Cambridge University in the UK.
Then, after working in Washington for three years, I went back to school to earn a Master of Business Administration at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. At Wharton, I learned many practical skills that have helped me a lot in business.
I thought that my MBA would be the last of my school years, but I was not finished. Many years later, while living in Hong Kong, I returned to school part-time for an Associate of Science degree in Information Technology from the Open University of Hong Kong. I did this to try and keep up with the dramatic ways the digital world was reshaping the publishing industry.
Participating in the Close Up program in high school, studying abroad at UNC, and then attending Cambridge University really set me on course for an international career. But little did I realize that I would spend 26 years working in Hong Kong.
What teachers made a lasting impact?
My most cherished educational memories center around inspirational teachers. In particular, three teachers I had at Lee County High School stand out: Mrs. Cope (U.S. History), Guy York (Journalism), Dr. L.A. Lyon (Chemistry). They were all larger than life characters to me, each with their own unique style of teaching. They really cared about their students and put a lot of effort into helping us grow as people. Moreover, their outlook and ways of thinking profoundly influenced the way I see the world.
Ms. Cope’s teaching style was extremely creative and fun. She fed a love of history that has stayed with me throughout my life. She taught me to view current events through a historical lens.
Dr. Lyon had a very distinctive outlook on the world. He taught me to look at scientific problems (or any problems) from different perspectives, to break them down into smaller steps, and to think clearly and creatively about ways of solving them.
Mr. York was the advisor for our student newspaper, The Panorama, in addition to teaching our journalism class. He taught us to think analytically, to ask good questions, and to write clearly and concisely. Mr. York's influence was a big part of what led me to work for the student newspapers at UNC and at Wharton, and then to work in the media industry.
Your work background?
Most of my career has been in media and publishing management. I worked for Newsweek magazine in New York and then in Hong Kong. I spent a total of 26 years in Hong Kong, initially as General Manager for Newsweek's Asian edition. I later started my own publishing company, focused on bilingual and translated magazines and books. At first, these were all traditional printed publications but I gradually shifted to more and more digital publishing: ebooks, apps, and computer programs that generated short stories.
Alongside my career in media, I’ve remained involved with our family's real estate development company, Lee Moore Capital Company in Sanford. I serve as a director of Lee Moore Capital, which is run by my cousin Kirk Bradley. At this stage of my career, I really enjoy being part of a business that is connected deeply to the community.
In addition to the Lee County Education Foundation, one of my most cherished service activities is being chairman of the Advisory Board for the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. The Planetarium's science programming reaches over 90,000 school children each year through field trips to the Planetarium in Chapel Hill, school visits by Morehead's mobile planetarium, and Morehead's summer camps.
What perspectives do you bring to the Foundation board?
Most importantly, I believe strongly in the power of education. I deeply love the public education system in Lee County, which profoundly shaped who I am today. And as my career journey shows, I have tried to incorporate education into different stages of my life to keep up with changes in the world.
My background in media has given me a keen sense of the importance of communication. Being able to tell your story well is crucial to achieving your goals and we have a wonderful story to tell about supporting Lee County Schools.
Finally, my role on the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Advisory Board gives me a window onto the ways that science education is evolving. Informal and experiential learning have a crucial role in supporting what is happening in the classroom.
What inspired you to join LCEF’s board?
During my years in Lee County public schools, I always felt surrounded by teachers and staff who cared deeply about me and inspired me to work toward my dreams. My teachers instilled an excitement about learning that I have carried with me to this day and has enriched every aspect of my life. I want to try and pay back the support that the school system and community gave me when I was growing up.
What’s most exciting about the work of LCEF?
I am so impressed with the Lee County teachers I have met, with their passion and commitment. The most exciting part of LCEF's work for me is being able to support our teachers in their work. Programs like Head of Class, Sloan Scholars Teaching Fellows, and our new Beyond the Bell after-school pilot program are designed to lift up existing and aspiring teachers, and all the staff who support our teachers.
Why invest in Lee County Schools?
Growing up in Lee County, I experienced how deeply our schools were embedded in every aspect of our community. To maintain a healthy community, we have to have a thriving public school system. Lee County's long-term success depends on the commitment, resources, and love that we put into our public schools.
Why should others support the mission of the Lee County Education Foundation?
Supporting our public schools is the most important investment we can make for the future of Lee County.
More about you…
I enjoy stargazing, and recently got an amateur telescope. I love spending time at home with my wife and daughter.