Exciting Leadership Changes at St. Joseph School! 🎉

Reverend Martin Laird, pastor of Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church and St. Joseph School, has announced that St. Joseph School will adopt the President/Principal Model of Administration and has hired Blaine Dauzat as the school’s first president.

Dauzat will begin his new role in January 2026.

Dauzat recently retired as Avoyelles Parish Superintendent of Education and brings decades of leadership experience in public education to St. Joseph School. In his new role, he will join the school’s leadership team and work collaboratively with the principal to advance the mission of Catholic education in Plaucheville.

For many decades, Catholic schools across the country have successfully employed the President/Principal Model to strengthen governance and leadership. Under this model, administrative responsibilities are divided between two complementary leadership roles.

Roles

• The president serves as the outward-facing leader of the school, focusing on:
• Strategic planning
• Fundraising
• Advancement
• Enrollment growth
• External relations
• The principal serves as the inward-facing leader, overseeing:
• Academics
• Faculty
• Student life
• Discipline
• Campus safety

St. Joseph School is blessed to already have an 18-year veteran educator, Rhiannon Moreau, serving as principal. She has begun working closely with Dauzat in preparation for the formal transition to the new leadership structure.

“St. Joseph School is truly blessed to have such a proven and successful school leader step into this role,” Reverend Laird said. “Dauzat’s experience, vision, and commitment to education will be an asset as we continue to strengthen our mission and serve our students and families.”

School officials noted that the President/Principal Model will allow St. Joseph School to better support long-term growth while maintaining a strong focus on academic excellence and Catholic identity.