How often do teachers in Mobile county wake up to a
bright, sunny morning in the middle of the week and dream
of a relaxed drive to Dauphin Island instead of going to
school? Most dreams include a day spent enjoying the sea
breeze, listening to the waves crash, and watching the
gulls and pelicans dive for fish. Perhaps eating a picnic
lunch by the dunes watching the sea oats blow in the
breeze would top off the day. This vision is a dream come
true for Paula Loper, except her drive across the bridge
every morning takes her to school not from it. Mrs. Loper
is principal of Dauphin Island Elementary School, the
Little Red School House near the public beach of Dauphin
Island, Alabama. "I get so excited every morning when I
cross the bridge. I have always loved the beach, and I
love teaching. Enjoying them both at the same time is
definitely a dream come true."
Dauphin Island School house a unique place in Mobile
county, but not just because of its beach location. It
is the smallest school in the district with only 68
students in K-6. Grade levels are combined to accommodate
the small number of students in each grade. Because of
the unique size and remote location, all faculty and staff
members must wear many hats. Mrs. Loper divides her time
as counselor, as well as principal. Three full-time
teachers, Ms. Maria Wilson, Mrs. Henderson, and Mrs. Wendy
Webster each serve two grade levels. Ms. Arta Musial
teaches Kindergarden and also teaches subjects in other
grades. The office staff consists of Mrs. Anne Waller who
serves as secretary, bookkeeper, registrar and first aid
worker. The faculty includes two half-time employees,
physical education instructor Mrs. Jeannette Tabb and
media specialist Mrs. Cathy Dreaper, and a part-time
custodian Mrs. Belinda Bates. Mrs. Joyce Hovell, an
island native and former student of the school
(1941-1948), wears the unusual assortment of hats. She
serves as general aide during the school day, but before
and after school, she can be found in a Mobile County
Deputy Sheriff's uniform directing the school traffic.
She is also the longest continuing school employee,
serving for the last 21 years. She has directed traffic
since 1960. Since the school has no cafeteria, you will
find teachers and staff in the All-Purpose-Room kitchen
warming home cooked meals in six microwave ovens or
selling milk or ice cream at snacktime.
The faculty is also unique in that it still resembles the
one or two room schools common in the early 20th century.
The wood-frame main building was constructed in 1930
further east on the island and consisted of two
classrooms, a hallway and an auditorium. It was moved to
the present location around 1954. Recently renovated and
freshly painted, it consists of three classrooms, office
space, teacher resource room, and first aid room. The
All-Purpose-Room was added to the back of the main
building in 1991 and serves as lunch room, meeting room,
auditorium, etc. Two portable buildings, a classroom and
library, are also recent additions to the campus. A
covered picnic area is located just outside the
All-Purpose-Room.
The image of the "Little Red School House" exists not
just in the physical facility but in character. The first
school building, a one room school, was built on the
island in 1898. Dauphin Island School still enjoys the
long tradition of parent and community involvement that
supported the little school a century ago. Because most
funding today is based on a per-pupil ratio, monies from
state and local sources are extremely low. However, with
the tremendous support of parents and community, the
school not only survives, it thrives. Funds for the
All-Purpose-Room addition were obtained through the
efforts of the Dauphin Island Property Owners Association,
a Partner in Education, and the school's Parent Teachers
Organization. In 1993, H.B. Zachary Co. donated the
portable building serving as the library. Another Partner
in Education, Mobil Oil, provides many valuable items and
services such as a sign with the school's dolphin logo,
lawn maintenance around the main building, paint, etc.
Exxon Corp. and many other businesses are active
supporters of the school. The school probably has the
largest percentage of volunteer parents in the district,
and community members without children in the school are
often seen working around the campus. Many of these
volunteers attended the school themselves as well as their
parents and grandparents. All of this support, both
financial and physical, adds up to successful,
well-adjusted students who go on to middle school and high
school at Alba in Bayou La Batre.
So if you have the opportunity to visit Dauphin Island on
a school day, drop by, and you will find faculty, staff
and students ready to show off the "Little Red
School House", a place where the tradition of the one-room
school and modern education successfully blend. And if
you arrive around noon, take your lunch and enjoy the view
from the school's picnic tables under the dunes.
Written by:
Cathy Dreaper
Photograph by:
Billy Dunn