Compton, Thomas promoted to principal positions in District 55

Ferrell Thomas was named principal of Waterloo Elementary School.

Lewis Compton was named principal of Laurens Middle School.

Laurens, South Carolina – The Laurens County School District #55 (LCSD 55) Board of Trustees approved the appointment of new principals for both Laurens Middle School (LMS) and Waterloo Elementary School (WES) at the May 18, 2020 regular meeting of the board. The vacancies were a result of the promotions of Dr. Anna Brink and Jennifer Abercrombie to Director positions at the LCSD 55 district office. Farrell Thomas, currently an assistant principal at Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle School (GCO), will become the principal of WES in 2020/2021.  Lewis Compton, currently the assistant principal for the senior class at Laurens District 55 High School (LDHS) will become the principal at Laurens Middle School in 2020/2021. 

Thomas has 15 years’ experience in public education and is certified as an Elementary Principal. He obtained his B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, graduating with honors in 2000. He subsequently earned a Masters of Educational Leadership from Concordia University in 2015 (also graduating with honors). He received an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in the Principalship from Arkansas State University in 2017. Thomas spent portions of his career in both Greenville County School District and in Greenwood School District 50. He has been in LCSD 55 since 2018, serving at both Ford Elementary School and GCO.

Compton has been a teacher, coach, and administrator in LCSD 55 for all of his 27 years in public education. He received his B.S. in Business Administration from Lander University in 1997 and subsequently earned another B.S. in Business Education from Lander. Compton completed a Master of Science in Educational Leadership at Grand Canyon University in 2008 and obtained his certification as a Secondary Principal. He served as a social studies teacher from 1992 – 2013 and coached a variety of sports, including football, basketball, soccer, and baseball. Compton has served as an assistant principal at LDHS since 2013/2014.

Look for more on the board’s actions in the Wednesday, May 20 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser.

LCSD 55 serves the communities of Laurens, Waterloo, Gray Court, Hickory Tavern, and their surrounding residents in the northwestern half of Laurens County, SC.