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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November 24, 2024 - Since inception, the Lee County Education Foundation has been run solely by its Board of Directors. This dedicated group of individuals has managed fundraising, event planning and program expansion. Because of the explosion of programming under the LCEF umbrella, including the new Temple Sloan Lee County Teaching Fellows Program, the LCEF has made the decision to hire an Executive Director to oversee this expansion and grow our donor base. We believe a paid Executive Director will allow the Foundation to effectively further its mission of empowering educators and moving futures forward for all students in Lee County, and in a sustainable way with long-term positive outcomes for our community.

Are you passionate about public education in Lee County? Are you organized, love being involved in community events and forming relationships to make a positive impact? This role could be for you!

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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…

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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…

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