2022 marks 50th Anniversary of Dozier Elementary opening as an Erath Feeder School

A half-century ago, a new school emerged and changed the face of Erath’s educational system. On August 29, 1972, Dozier Elementary opened its doors with a new, caring, and motivated staff as the community’s feeder school for all students in grades 1, 2, and 3.
Before this time, Erath High was housing grades 1-12. It was decided in 1971, that the original brick RF Dozier structure built in 1954 and closed in 1968 due to integration would be utilized again.
The motion to create Dozier Elementary using the RF Dozier school facility, coupled with the renovations and construction of rooms, was made by then Erath school board member U.P. LeBlanc. Dr. Joseph Kite was superintendent at that time.
Vermilion Parish School Board minutes from October 21, 1971, which were printed on Monday, November 15, 1971, state: “Superintendent Kite reviewed student enrollment growth at Erath High since 1950 with an explanation that existing facilities including four temporary buildings on the main campus are taxed beyond capacity, the Superintendent recommending that six classrooms and a library be added to the Dozier school building and convert this facility to a separate elementary school housing grades 1, 2, 3 with a projected enrollment of 325 students.”

Background of the structure of the RF Dozier school

From 1942-1968 on the current Dozier grounds stood an African American school. The school was originally named after Robert and Francis (RF) Dozier, a couple who made strides in educating the Black youth in 1911, in both their own home and then the Beard Congregation Church.
By 1941, under the leadership of the Dozier couple’s son, Frank Dozier, and other citizens, the group approached the Vermilion Parish School Board to build a new school for Black students on what is now the Dozier Elementary campus. The land was purchased from Phillip and Eugenie Richard, and a wooden structure opened in 1942 for grades 1-6. However, by the fifties, a larger structure was needed to assist with the growing student body. More land was purchased from the Richard family and a larger school was built to accommodate grades 1-8.
In 1954, bearing the name R. F. Dozier, the new brick school opened, which honored Robert and Frances Dozier. That structure remains part of the present-day school, with the original plaque at the outdoor entrance.
From 1942-1968, Principal Reverend B. T. Whitt and his dedicated faculty were committed to providing their students with the best possible education. However, by May 1968, the R. F. Dozier School building closed its doors to integrate with Erath High School.
During the 1968-69 school year, the R. F. Dozier building remained closed. The following year, the school structure progressed through a new phase. Doors opened for children in the “Follow Through” Program in 1969.
By 1971, there was a need for more space for Erath students. So, with Superintendent Kite, school board members U.P. LeBlanc, Dalton Domingue, and the rest of the board, in 1971, a decision was made that the RF Dozier campus would be renovated and additional classrooms constructed to assist Erath High’s overcrowding situation.

A new school reopens, but its namesake remains

In August 1972, history was made as Dozier Elementary opened for all Erath students in 1st-3rd grade. Now encapsulated within this campus were strong roots, embedded with the past and present, as well as a new future. The former brick structure remained intact, with six new classrooms and a library added. Erath High was now grades 4-12, with the first elementary facility, as a feeder school in Erath. Subsequently, this motion and move changed the face of the Erath school system. In later years, grades 4-8 also split from the high school and became the town’s middle school, renamed Erath Middle, forming three schools in the community.
Johnnie Suire, a longtime Vermilion Parish educator, was named the new principal. Under the supervision of this dedicated administrator, Dozier Elementary took its first steps as a new school. However, Suire, who sincerely admired the story behind the Dozier couple who paved the path to educating the Black youth from 1911-1941, wanted the Dozier name to remain in place. Fortunately, that request was honored.
According to the Abbeville Meridional printed on Thursday, August 31, 1972, it stated that school opening of Vermilion Parish schools had opened on Tuesday (August 29, 1972) with Dozier Elementary housing 271 students that day.
As expected, the initial years at this primary school experienced hurdles but were productive. Johnnie Suire proudly shared that the perseverance and strength of the 1972-73 staff helped the school rise above problems that often accompany a school during its infancy. In a 1986 interview, shaking his head with a smile, then changing to an eager and proud face, Suire stated that a “strong sense of unity guided them through many chaotic situations their first year.”
Kindergarten classes began two years later, in 1974. At that time, additional classrooms were constructed for the incoming Kindergarten students. Those rooms still are in place and now house all Pre-K students.
Suire remained in his leadership role until his retirement in 1980. Dozier Elementary had taken many positive steps under the guidance of this longtime educator. Six more were to follow in his footsteps in the 50-year history.
Other leaders who followed suit were Sherry B. Trahan (1980-1986), Teddy Broussard (1986-2001), Ralph Thibodeaux (2001-2003), Elizabeth Gremillion (2003-2009), Karla Desormeaux Toups (2009-2020), and currently, Andrea Turner Ford, who began in the fall of 2020.
The first assistant principal, Elizabeth Gremillion, was named in January 2002. When Gremillion became principal in the fall of 2003, Dawn Amy stepped in as the new assistant principal. The duo remained together until 2009, when Gremillion retired and Amy was named as the LeBlanc Elementary Principal. In 2009, Natalie Hebert followed as assistant principal. Over the years, others followed: Christine Hebert, Susie Stephen, DeEtte Roy, and Jessie Leger.
After the six classrooms and library were added in 1972, the overcrowding situation brought additional wings. In 1981-82, a new wing was built behind the school. Then in the early 20002, yet another wing was added to accommodate the consistent student growth. Several modular buildings and the CCD building were also part of the campus through the years.
In 1997, a cafeteria large enough to house the student body was finally built. Johnnie Suire made the first proposal in 1972. Twenty-five years later, that became a reality. The dedication ceremony for the cafeteria took place on November 6, 1997.
Following the Erath Middle School fire in 2000, fourth-grade students from EMS were transferred officially to the Dozier Elementary campus utilizing the campus CCD buildings. In addition to that, PreK began in 2002. By 2002, the school now housed PreK-4th grade.
By 2005, Hurricane Rita’s tidal surge had created havoc on the school plant. The faculty, staff, and students were displaced and moved four times from 2005 until returning home in 2009. In addition, Henry Elementary, south of Erath had been damaged beyond repair, and those students were sent between Dozier and Abbeville elementary schools.
Due to Hurricane Rita, all Vermilion Parish schools closed from September 25 until October 5 due to flooding. From October 6, 2005, until March 13, 2006, Dozier Elementary was platooned and shared a campus with Cecil Picard Elementary in Maurice. In March, the staff and students returned to their home facility for short term use. The school had been cleaned thoroughly, however; the facility still needed renovations. The student body and staff returned to bare cement floors, curtains replacing doors, and other bare necessity needs, but most were thrilled to be back in Erath.
The next step was renovating and rebuilding the cleaned but damaged plant. Then, in June 2006, the school moved into FEMA trailers on north road in Erath, where it remained until June 2009.
During the 2008-2009 school year, the Vermilion Parish School Board decided to create another elementary feeder school in the Erath area. As a result, many students remained at Dozier, while others were moved to the second feeder school, LeBlanc Elementary, north of Erath.
By August 2009, under a new leader Karla Desormeaux Toups, (who attended Dozier Elementary as a child), along with the faculty, staff, and students, finally returned to their 415 West Primeaux address. The school was now a PreK-5th grade school. Erath Middle would return to their grades 6-8 status. That year, LeBlanc Elementary opened as Erath’s third feeder school.
In March 2020, schools were dismissed for what was believed to be a short break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that led to the school’s closing on March 13, 2020, until the schools reopened again in August 2020, with many protocols for the educators and students.
In the summer of 2020, Karla Toups (Langlinais) retired, and Andrea Turner Ford, (also a former student at DES), was named the new principal. She and newly appointed Assistant Principal DeEtte Bigot opened the 2020-2021 year. In the fall of 2021, Mrs. Bigot took a position at Erath Middle, and Jessie Leger was named the new assistant principal.
Faced during the past five decades were natural disasters, rebuilding, construction of new wings, a cafeteria and a new gym, being displaced four times, a global pandemic, and a revolving door involving thousands of different faces in the shape of leaders, teachers, staff members, parents, and the community.
Fifty years have since passed since Dozier Elementary opened its doors in August 1972 as the first feeder school in Erath.
Several changes occurred physically to the plant, coupled with a variety of good and bad emotions attached to them. However, the one constant evident at all times were the concerns for learning, growth, and most importantly, educating and caring for the children who attended Dozier Elementary through the years. The school motto “We Care” fits the school appropriately and always has.
The complete history of Dozier Elementary can be found on the website @ https://des.vpsb.net/o/des/page/dozier-elementary-history