This week on The Filling Station Podcast, host Mary Ann LeRay talks with Elizabeth Thompson, principal of Comfort Elementary School, about her first year leading one of Jones County's smallest and most tight-knit schools. Elizabeth came to Comfort after years teaching fourth grade and third grade AIG at Moss Hill Elementary, followed by a stint as a digital learning specialist and assistant principal at North Lenoir High. Coming from a school of nearly 1,000 students, she says the shift to Comfort's roughly 125 students has been "a blessing" — she can speak to every child and know their families by name.
Elizabeth shares how quickly Jones County's community network responds when a student needs shoes, food, or other essentials, with churches, the Filling Station, and the county clothing closet often stepping in the same day. She also talks about what's ahead for year two: sharpening remediation for students with missing skills, growing the PTO with help from pre-K parents, and building on a growth mindset culture where kids are already asking to track their own progress.
One of the biggest changes at Comfort is the decision to keep sixth graders at the school rather than sending them on to middle school — a move that eased a lot of anxious fifth graders and earned trust from parents who value the continuity Comfort provides. Elizabeth closes with high praise for her students and staff, and a reminder that the community's support is what makes it possible.
Don't miss the Back to School Bash at the Civic Center on August 8, where Elizabeth will be handing out new book bags and meeting Comfort's incoming kindergarten and pre-K families.