Long-time educator a "Living Legend"

For 43 years, Burnell Lemoine worked as a teacher, principal, district administrator and superintendent. His reward was knowing that he did his best to improve his school system and to help the students in that school system succeed.
This Saturday, he will get a different kind of reward when he is inducted into the Acadian Museum’s Order of Living Legends.
The ceremony will be at 4 p.m. at the Acadian Museum Cafe in Erath.
“When you look at the list of others who have been inducted, I feel really honored to be included in their number,” Lemoine said.
The museum has recognized individuals “who help shape and define our Cajun culture” since 1997, the museum notes on its website. “We choose to honor Burnell Lemoine for a life dedicated to education and support of our public school system,” museum Executive Committee Chairman Andy Perrin said. “Although he is retired, he is still volunteering his time to help begin a new French immersion program in the Acadiana area.”
Lemoine, 69, said he spent 43 years as an educator, “but it was time to take a break” when he retired in 2011. “I still miss parts of it. I miss working with students, but I had a wonderful career.”
Lemoine graduated from Marksville High in 1963. He obtained his bachelor’s from Centenary College in Shreveport in 1968, his master’s in education from University of Southern Mississippi in 1978 and completed his master’s-plus-30 through studies at several universities.
He taught in Avoyelles schools, was principal of Marksville High from 1979-84, and the district’s director of federal programs from 1984-86.
He was appointed superintendent in 1986, succeeding Ronald Mayeux.
Avoyelles’ “Time of Troubles” occurred in 1988 when the federal court ordered the closing of several schools and consolidated schools to achieve desegregation.
In January 1991, a recently elected School Board fired Lemoine over “differences in philosophy.” Lemoine sued the board. In June 1992, the board settled the case for an undisclosed financial amount, board admission that it was wrong in firing Lemoine without notice and restoring all of his rights and privileges as an employee of the board. Lemoine dropped all charges against the board and individual members who voted to fire him.
“What could you do?” he recalled. “You were caught in a situation where the court comes in and says this is what you will do -- and that’s what you have to do.”
Lemoine said he understands why people were upset, but he holds no ill will against anyone involved in that situation and does not focus on that part of his career.
He said he enjoyed his years in the Avoyelles school system, and Avoyelles is still a very important part of his life.
“I go back as often as I can,” he said. “Of course, I go to visit with my brother and family, we’re very close, and I have friends I like to visit as well.”
Although he lives in Lafayette and is active in that community, he has retained his Avoyelles Parish roots. He still holds some positions on Avoyelles organizations -- including serving on the executive committee of La Commission Des Avoyelles, the Hypolite Bordelon Society board of directors, Le Theatre Des Bon Temps board of directors and the Marksville Prehistoric Indian Park advisory committee. He was a charter member of the Arts and Humanities Council of Avoyelles Parish.
In Lafayette, he serves or has served on the Lafayette Blue Ribbon Committee, Acadiana Safety Association board of directors, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Louisiana Preser-vation Alliance, Breast Center of Acadiana Foundation board of directors and Louisiana Craft Guild board of directors.
He has also served on many state and local professional organizations, boards and committees.
After leaving Avoyelles, Lemoine was hired by the Lafayette Parish School System. It was almost like starting his career all over.
He began as an acting assistant principal in 1991. He also served as an acting principal before moving to the district’s Central Office. He served as director of instructional and federal programs, assistant superintendent of instruction and deputy superintendent/chief academic officer. He was interim superintendent from October 2000 to January 2001. He got the job to keep in 2007, serving as superintendent until he retired in 2011.
Among his achievements as superintendent of Lafayette schools, Lemoine lists the development of the Continuing Academic Program for Students (CAPS) -- an alternative setting for students recommended for expulsion. He also co-developed PACE -- Primary Academic & Creative Experiences -- program.
PACE’s goal is to foster cognitive, motor, social-emotional and language development of elementary students through the arts.
Lemoine also lists the creation of Lafayette Charter High School as a major achievement in his term as superintendent in Lafayette. He said the school is especially beneficial for at-risk students and those in danger of dropping out.
The Lafayette system also created an “E-Campus” program to enable members of the community to take classes -- even obtain their high school diploma.
He is also proud of programs that went into the community to help parents learn how to help their children succeed in school and to assist parents in obtaining their GED.
“Throughout my career, I and my staff always had the attitude that we wanted to see what we could do to make the system better, to make the children more successful and to improve the overall education of students,” he said.
“I’ve had an incredible career,” he said. “I’ve been able to be a teacher, a principal, a director, an assistant superintendent, a deputy superintendent and a superintendent in a career that I loved. Not many people can say that.”
He said when he looks back on his career, the one thing that jumps out is “that I was always fortunate to be surrounded by people who were very supportive and wonderful to work with.”