The History of Dozier Elementary - Vermilion Parish School District

The History of Dozier Elementary
A Dream ….."Some said, an Impossible Dream." Robert Dozier was a rare man who dared to
dream, in hope of educating his children, at a time when prejudice was prevalent throughout
society. The year was 1911, two generations preceding Dr. Martin Luther King's stand for civil
rights and his famous words, “I Have a Dream." Like Dr. King, Robert Dozier had a dream. His,
was one of offering an education to his children and grandchildren. But, in Erath, a small rural town
in Southwest Louisiana, educational opportunities for African American children were virtually non
existent. Realizing this, Robert and Frances Dozier took fate into their own hands. They decided
not to sit and wait patiently for society to eventually offer their children what most people take for
granted. This unique couple offered their children, "the gift of an education."
Robert Dozier and his wife Frances, native Kentuckians, moved to Avery Island, Louisiana. Shortly
afterwards, the couple settled in Erath, with their ten children, Adeline, Arthur, Frank, Henry., Libby,
Lizzie, Mary, Pinkie, Sally and Willie. Robert Dozier was employed at a local lumberyard, while his
wife worked as a mid-wife in the area. Together, they decided to provide their children with the
advantages of an education.
Around 1911, the Dozier's hired an educator to enter their home and teach the African American
children in the area. Mrs. Gracie Milton Neal of Abbeville was the teacher selected by the Dozier
Family. She offered these children the advantages of a new learning environment. During this time,
Mrs. Neal lived in the Dozier home. To help accommodate the students, each morning Mrs. Dozier
would lean the bed against the wall, instantly transforming the bedroom into a school room. This
routine continued until 1916, when it was decided that the Beard Congregation Christian Church
would serve the dual purpose of a school and a church. Mrs. Alberta Price of New Orleans was the
first teacher. Over the next twenty five years, Mrs. Gracie Neal of Abbeville, Harold Gilbert of New
Iberia and Lizzie Lee Brown (Robert Dozier's granddaughter), of Erath, respectively taught in the
church. Lizzie Lee Brown remained at R.F. Dozier Elementary School until her death in 1959.
Student enrollment steadily increased and by 1941, the church could no longer accommodate the
classes. .At this time, concerned parents approached the Vermilion Parish School Board for
assistance. Land was purchased for the school site in August, 1941. The School Board purchased
1.01 acres of land from Phillip Richard for $1,000.
Construction of the small building was estimated at $890. Doors to the new
two room wooden school opened in 1942, Due to limited space, the building
could only house grades one through six, To continue their education, the
older children would then attend school either in Abbeville or New Iberia.
Reverend B, T. Whitt of Lake Charles became the first Principal in 1942 and
remained in that capacity until the school closed its doors in 1968. Earning
seventy five dollars a month, this devoted educator was determined to offer
his students the benefits of a good education. Additional land purchases
were made in May and November of 1948. The widow and heirs of Phillip
Richard, for the consideration of $7,460, granted to the Vermilion Parish
Reverend B.T. Whitt
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The History of Dozier Elementary
School Board a total of 4.69 acres of land. By the early 1950's, it was apparent that additional
space
was
needed
for
the
growing
student
body,
Construction costs of a new brick school for grades one through eight was estimated at $236,837;
with the assistance of the Vermilion Parish School Board, allocated funds were made available for
the building of the new structure.
Bearing the proud name, "R. F. Dozier Elementary", this new school opened in 1954, in honor of
Robert and Frances Dozier. The original brick structure still exists as part of the present school. For
the next fourteen years, Reverend Whitt and his dedicated faculty were committed to providing
their students with the best possible education, The R. F. Dozier Elementary School closed its
doors in May, 1968 to integrate with Erath High School, which accommodated grades one through
twelve. The controversial issue of school desegregation had entered an era, where it became
possible for all students to embark on an equal education.
During the 1968-69 school year R. F. Dozier
Elementary remained closed. The: following
year, this small school progressed through a
new phase. Doors opened for children in the
Follow Through Program, Ms. Cecile Dubois,
Ms, Jeanette Pillette, Ms. Mary Jo Crutchfield,
Ms. Linda Chaumont and Ms. Mae Belle
Wilturner Boudreaux were teachers in this
program, educating students in grades one, two
and three. Classes were limited to eighteen
Dozier Elementary in 1972
students, with one class per grade level.
Language experiences, field trips and hands on activities were some of the teaching methods
promoted by this new federally funded program, decisions were made in 1972, which affected the
educational paths of many children in the community. Additional classrooms were built and Dozier
Elementary was established as
the primary, school for Erath
children in first, second and
third grade. Erath High School
would now accommodate
grades four through twelve.
Johnnie Suire a Math teacher
at Erath High School was
named the new Principal. Under
Johnnie Suire
the Supervision of this dedicated
Principal
(1972-1980)
administrator, Dozier Elementary
took its first steps as a new
Cheryl Domingues' Class & Johnnie Suire
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The History of Dozier Elementary
school. An eager faculty greeted two hundred seventy six "anxious" students in the fall of 1972. As
expected, the initial years at this primary school, proved to be difficult, but productive.
The perseverance and strength of this staff helped
them rise above problems that often accompany a
school during its infant years. A strong sense of "unity"
guided them through many chaotic situations.
Kindergarten classes began two years later in the CCD
Catholic Religion Buildings. During that year, four
additional classrooms were constructed for the
Kindergarten Classes Began in 1972
incoming Kindergarten students. Johnnie Suire
remained at this primary school until his retirement in 1980. Dozier Elementary had taken many
positive steps under the leadership of this long time educator.
Sherry Trahan, an elementary teacher at Erath High, ascended to the Principalship in the fall of
1980. School fund raising projects such as "The Womanless Wedding" and "The Haunted House”
were initiated under the supervision of Ms. Trahan. Activities such as these
helped develop a stronger bond between the school and the community.
By 1981, inadequate classroom space began posing problems as student
enrollment continued to increase. Construction began on six additional
classrooms in 1981. By the Spring of 1982, students were transferred from
the CCD Religion Buildings into the newly built classrooms.
Dozier Elementary experienced a tragic situation in October, 1984, when
unexpected, heavy rains
flooded the school grounds.
Sherry Trahan,
Principal 1980-1986
Twelve inches of rain fell
over a period of several
hours in the Erath area. Dozier Elementary, one of
the hardest hit schools in the parish, had damages
estimated at $157.000. As in the past, the
combination of determination, unity and effort
helped the staff through another difficult situation.
In 1985, the Vermilion Parish School Board
purchased less than an acre of land (.608) from Sherry Trahan with Rickey Menard's Class
Abel Hebert's heirs for $21,000.
Principal Sherry Trahan decided to retire in January, 1986, leaving behind her a strengthened bond
between the school and the community. Erath High School's Assistant Principal, Teddy Broussard,
was appointed to serve as acting principal during the spring semester. In August) 1986, he
returned as Dozier Elementary's new principal. Following in the footsteps of previous
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The History of Dozier Elementary
administrators, he created a positive environment for the staff, parents and
students. He too, proved to be an "asset" to this elementary school by
promoting such activities as "Breakfast of Champions", "Friday Night Prime
Time", The Annual "Reading
Challenge", "Mail Call", and the
"The Principal's Refrigerator
Door ." By reading to the
students on a regular basis, Mr.
Broussard helped develop a
Teddy Broussard,
Principal
1986-2000
positive attitude toward the
reading program, while learning
about his students.
Dedicated teachers and strong parental support
Cecile Dubois' Class & Teddy Broussard
have always proved to be important factors in
educating children at Dozier Elementary. School activities such as field trips, pen pal programs,
storybook character dress up day, special birthday recognition, school wide reading buddies, and
daily silent sustained reading periods all help create a positive learning environment at this primary
school. In 1997, a cafeteria large enough to house the student body was finally built on the Dozier
Elementary campus. The first proposal had been made by Mr. Johnnie Suire in 1972. The
dedication ceremony for the cafeteria took place on November 6, 1997, with Father Wayne Duet,
Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church blessing it. The ribbon cutting event took place with
former principal Johnnie Suire as a guest. Other guests included Vermilion Parish Nutrition
Supervisor, Debbie Kite; Project Architect, Gene Sellers Jr. Assistant Superintendent, Cliff
Alleman, Superintendent, Dan Dartez. School Board Members, Caroll “Bubba" Leblanc and Jay
Comeaux. School Cafeteria Manager Gerri Dubois cut the ribbon. The students participating in the
ribbon cutting ceremony were: Jodie Adams, Caleb Thibodeaux, Kailey Domingues, Seth Bourque,
Eddie Hulin and Ashlie Romero.
In 1988, history was made in the parish, as many Vermilion Parish School Employees went on
strike, initiating many changes in the system. Change has played a major role in education over the
years. Dozier Elementary began its unique history with one teacher and a few students in the home
of two courageous parents. The total enrollment, as of 1999, has increased 476 students with a
faculty of thirty two.
Following the Erath Middle School fire in 2000, fourth grade
students transferred officially to the Dozier Elementary campus. In
addition to that, Pre K began in 2002. Now the primary school in
Erath houses over 700 Pre-K through fourth grade students. In
2001, Teddy Broussard accepted a job at the State Board of
Education and Ralph Thibodeaux served as the school’s next
Former Principals Johnnie Suire,
Sherry Trahan and Ralph
Thibodeaux
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The History of Dozier Elementary
principal. In January of 2002, the first Assistant Principal Mrs. Elizabeth Gremillion was named.
Gremillion was selected as Dozier's newest leader in the fall of 2003. At
that time, Mrs. Dawn Amy stepped in as the second Assistant Principal.
On September 24, 2005, the wrath of Hurricane Rita's path flooded the
town of Erath. The three Erath schools shared campuses with other
Vermilion Parish Schools. Dozier Elementary shared a campus with
Maurice Elementary. JH Williams in Abbeville housed Erath Middle
students, while Abbeville High housed Erath High students. In March of
2006, all three schools returned to their own Erath campuses. In the
Dozier Principal
2006, Dozier students were then transferred to FEMA buildings north of Elizabeth Gremillion
and Assistant Principal
Erath with the intention of Dozier being renovated.
On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike hit the Galveston coast in Texas,
sending a tidal surge once again in southwest Louisiana. Erath schools
were hit again with flooding.
Dawn Amy who served
the school from 20032009.
During the 2008-09 school year, it was decided by the Vermilion Parish School Board to create two
elementary feeder schools in the Erath area. LeBlanc Elementary will serve Pre K-5 students and
will remain in the current (Matte Property) facility while a new school is built. On the south end of
Erath, Dozier Elementary's old plant was restored for a second feeder school for Pre K-5. The 6th
through 8th grade students will attend Erath Middle, then Erath High School.
In June 2009, Elizabeth Gremillion retired from
the Vermilion Parish Educational system.
Karla Desormeaux Toups, (a former Dozier
student) was named the Principal for the fall
2009 year, while Dozier's Assistant Principal
Dawn Amy was named the new LeBlanc
Elementary Principal. Natalie Guillot Hebert
was named Dozier’s 3rd Assistant Principal.
Through
the
leadership
of
strong
Assistant Principal Natalie Hebert and Principal
administrators, many dedicated teachers and Karla Toups began as Dozier Leaders in August of
the courage of Robert and Frances Dozier, this
2009.
primary school has traveled a long, difficult
road since 1911. It is a different time and a different place, but the original dream of offering
children an education will always be the legacy Robert Dozier left behind. It was a dream. Some
said, “An Impossible Dream.”
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