Ingram

Welcome to J.R. Ingram Elementary School!

Welcome to J.R. Ingram Elementary School, a proud part of the Lee County Schools family! Nestled on Wicker Street in the heart of Sanford, North Carolina, our school has been a beacon of academic excellence, character development, and community pride since opening its doors in the fall of 1998.

At J.R. Ingram, we are "Wild About Learning!" We foster a nurturing, innovative environment dedicated to shaping well-rounded, compassionate students. Everything we do is guided by our Eagle Pillars:

Engage: We captivate young minds through interactive, student-centered learning—from core academics to vibrant specials like Music, Art, PE, Library, and Spanish.

Achieve: We challenge every child to reach their highest academic potential through innovative teaching practices and personalized support as a proud Title I school.

Grow: We encourage social, emotional, and character growth, teaching students resilience, empathy, and respect for themselves and others.

Lead: We model integrity and responsibility, inspiring our students to take ownership of their learning and lead by positive example in their classrooms and community.

Empower: We equip our children with the confidence, critical thinking skills, and community support they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

A Tradition of Strong Leadership & Excellence

J.R. Ingram’s legacy of success is rooted in strong leadership, dedicated staff, and active community partnerships. Since 1998, our school’s rich traditions and values have been shaped by six exceptional principals: founding principal Mr. Ned Thompson, Mrs. Terry Norris, Mr. Frank Thompson, Mr. Gary Moore, Ms. Lisa Duffey, and today, Ms. Melissa Brewer.

Under Ms. Brewer’s leadership, our talented educators work hand-in-hand with families and community partners to ensure every child feels safe, valued, and inspired. Together, we soar to new heights as we Engage, Achieve, Grow, Lead, and Empower every student, every day!

Ms Brewer

Melissa Brewer - Principal

Welcome to the Eagle family! I'm Ms. Brewer, and I couldn't be more excited to embark on this journey as your new principal. With a deep-rooted passion for education, nurtured by my own experiences as a public school student, I am dedicated to making a positive impact on our school and community.

With 19 years of education experience in Lee County, I've had the privilege of wearing many hats, from a dedicated 5th-grade teacher at Deep River to an Assistant Principal at East Lee Middle School. My time at East Lee Middle opened my eyes to the unique needs of middle schoolers and reinforced my belief in the power of a supportive and nurturing educational environment.

In 2019, I had the honor of being part of the opening administrative team at W.B. Wicker Elementary STEAM school, witnessing firsthand the revitalization of a community and the excitement surrounding its future. Throughout my journey, I've learned that building strong relationships with students, families, and staff is paramount to creating a thriving school community.

At J.R. Ingram, my focus is clear: children come first. I am committed to nurturing and growing every child, supporting our dedicated staff, and fostering strong connections with our families and community members. Together, we will set ambitious goals, celebrate achievements, and continuously strive for excellence to ensure a bright future for our students.

Join us as we unleash the potential of lifelong leaders. Together, we will soar to new heights!

Contact information:

Email: melissabrewer@lee.k12.nc.us

Phone: 919-774-3772 ext. 4302

Gloria Perez

Gloria Perez - Assistant Principal

Contact Information

Email: gloriaperez@lee.k12.nc.us

Phone: 919-774-3772 x 4303

School Improvement Plan

Indistar is a platform that guides high-quality work by school or district leadership teams in the state of North Carolina. 

Click here to learn more about Indistar. Username: GuestS16638 Password: GuestS16638

Our school improvement team consists of elected grade level representatives, specialists, teacher assistants, administration and parents.  The team meets each month to plan, execute, assess, monitor and/or adjust strategies focused on overall school improvement.  Members of the school improvement team are:

  • Melissa Brewer - Principal

  • Gloria Perez - Assistant Principal

  • Rosallba Sanchez - ESL

  • Lisa Patrick - EC

  • Camisha Bell - Counselor

  • Ms. Caines - Literacy

  • Amy Keister - Literacy

  • Jennifer Koneski - Math & Science

  • Amanda Wilkinson - AIG

  • - Teacher Assistant

  • Matt Miller - Music

  • Margie Todd - Kindergarten

  • Shannon McGuire - 1st grade

  • Kimberly Dakdouk - 2nd Grade

  • Krissy Cadavid - 3rd Grade

  • Anna Dezern - 4th Grade

  • Rachelle David - 5th Grade

Click link below to see our SIP.

Click the link below for our School Report Card for 2024-2025

Click link below to see our Annual Notification of Pest Management Program for school year 2024-2024

Click link below to see our 24-25 Ingram Family Engagement Policy

School Beginning and End Times:

7:30 a.m. Earliest Drop-Off Time

7:55 a.m. First Bell

8:00 a.m. TARDY BELL 

8:00 a.m. Instructional Day Begins

2:30 p.m. Instructional Day Ends