Sampson County native Lenora Locklear can’t help but grin. Locklear, who has been a teacher and a principal for 30 years now, has always felt that she must have made some type of difference in the lives of her students. After all, she can go through tons of pictures and see how her students have grown and turned into productive adults.

But not until a couple of years ago did she realize the lengths that a couple of her students would go to find her and show their appreciation for the difference she made in their lives. And, within the process, these students, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, made a movie about that search, Looking for Ms. Locklear, which will premiere in Cary Saturday night.

Locklear, a Midway High School graduate who now lives in Sampson County but works in the Cumberland County school system, said she became aware of her former students’ search when a personnel director with Cumberland County Schools told her that two men she taught in first grade back in 1985 wanted to meet her.

Locklear said she was a little nervous but agreed to the visit at her school, Cumberland Mills Elementary School, where she had just started work as principal.

So on a summer day in 2006, McLaughlin and Neal made their way to her school and saw Locklear, the teacher who had been so instrumental in their lives.

“As soon as I saw them, I knew exactly who they were,” said Locklear. She said that she only had trouble remembering McLaughlin’s name.

As soon as they sat down in her office, they began to tell just why they wanted to find their long-lost first grade teacher.

“They said, ‘Ms. Lockear, do you remember keeping us in for recess?,’” Locklear commented.

Locklear said she didn’t recall that exact event, but McLaughlin and Neal said they were kept in from recess after the two were caught writing bad words on their desks. It was during this one experience that the two became fast friends and have remained so since that day. They also explained how they remembered how she use to wear Native American regalia to school, that she had big bangs, and how they also thought she was “very good looking” and had a little bit of a crush on her.

The two filmmakers then told Locklear about their adventure in finding her. They decided to just search by talking to people rather than Googling her name.

At first, they started by going back to their elementary school Buies Creek Elementary School. But, Locklear had left that particular school several years before to attend graduate school at East Carolina University. However, the principal of Buies Creek encouraged McLaughlin and Neal to go to Robeson County to talk to some Lumbee Indian tribal members, since her last name, Locklear, has origins in that area.

As a matter of fact, Locklear’s father, Willard, is a Lumbee Indian, and her mother, Joyce, is a Coharie Indian. Locklear, herself, was Ms. Coharie Princess in 1974, and both her parents were educators as well.

In the process of finding their beloved teacher, they began to learn a great deal about the Lumbee people and their culture. They even followed some of the tribal members as they went to Washington D.C. in an attempt to be recognized as a tribe by the federal government.

In the end, after they found Ms. Locklear, she invited the two to help with a Native American heritage assembly at her school. They even sang a song about her that left all of her elementary students cheering for their favorite principal and teacher.

Now that the two have found Locklear, and the movie about the process is complete, Locklear says that she felt honored to know that her students remembered her in such a unique way.

In fact, she uses her experience as a method of encouraging some of her teachers whom may feel like they are not making any type of difference.

“I tell my teachers, ‘you never know the impact you have on your students,’” Locklear commented, “Now, as a 30-year educator, what a testimony (I have)... I have a movie thanks to Rhett and Link.”

Her mother, Joyce, is also quite thrilled to know that Locklear is being recognized.

“I am very proud of her. She is a good teacher, and she keeps me happy,” said Joyce.

The film has actually won several awards at some film festivals, including the Secret City Film Fest and the Ace Film Fest. The film is also in the planning stages to be shown on South Carolina Public Television, since it won the Southern Lens Award.

And while the awards are important, McLaughlin, in a interview, said he is just glad to know that people have enjoyed watching it.

“The most rewarding thing is getting to show it to a group of 500 people,” said McLaughlin.

And, as Locklear recalls the difference she has made on students, she can’t help but think of her own favorite teacher, Mary Bell, who was her first grade teacher and a Coharie Indian.

“I remember having a love of learning, and she instilled this in me,” said Locklear.

For those interested in attending the showing of Looking for Ms. Locklear at Galaxy Cinema in Cary, click onto locklearmovie.com for details.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.