Rene Rost Principal David Dupuis retiring after 37 years

KAPLAN — The memories collected during a nearly 40-year run in education are too many to sit and tell at one time.
David Dupuis, Ph.D, will soon have plenty of time to reflect on his 37 years as a teacher, coach and principal. Dupuis, who has served as principal at Rene Rost Middle School in Kaplan since 2007, is wrapping up this school year. Once he is finished at the end of this week, he will head off into retirement.
“It all comes in time,” Dupuis said with a laugh Thursday morning. “It’s been a great, great career.
“I came in loving it. I am leaving the same way.”
Among the things that Dupuis will cherish the most is the time he spent with people.
“Thank God I always had a great rapport with students, teachers and parents,” Dupuis said. “I was very, very fortunate for that.
“Through time, I was successful because of other people, not because of myself.”
That was certainly true, Dupuis stressed, during his time as principal, which began at Gueydan High School in the late 1990s, before going to J.H. Williams Middle, then on to Kaplan High and leading to his time at Rene Rost.
“Those teachers and students made me a great success,” Dupuis said.
Something Dupuis had a hand in starting in Vermilion Parish has become a rousing success.
“One memory that will stay with me the most,” Dupuis said, “was that we started a number of softball teams that are still in existence today. They are still successful.
“I am very proud of being a part of that.”
Softball programs Dupuis helped get off the ground include Gueydan High, Rene Rost and J.H. Williams.
“Pretty much everywhere I have gone,” Dupuis said, “I’ve dealt with softball in some way, shape or form.”
The Kaplan High Lady Pirates program, one that just won the Class 3A State Title, is another. Dupuis was principal at Kaplan High when the Lady Pirates captured the same crown in ‘06.
“That was awesome,” Dupuis said of the Lady Pirates’ most recent title. “I was fortunate to be the principal at the time when they won the first state championship.
“Those are very good memories.”
Those who have helped Dupuis make memories as part of his educational family are important. However, it’s his own family that has made all the difference.
“My wife and my kids have always been my greatest supporters,” Dupuis said. “Without them, none of this could have ever been done.”
His wife, Anita, and his four children, Derek, 29, Lauren 25, Hayden, 13, and Bailey, 11, will be the best part of Dupuis’ retirement.
“We have a couple of vacations planned,” Dupuis said. “I am going to continue growing up with them.”
Dupuis has a rocking chair in his office at Rene Rost. It is one of his favorite things. He doesn’t have any plans to spend much of his retirement in that chair, though.
“I would like to return to the classroom,” Dupuis said. “I would like to return to some coaching. I am not completely done. I would like to get in the game again, especially softball. I am still an adjunct professor at UL (Lafayette). I teach in the education department there, going on 17 years. I plan on continuing that.
“Just sitting down and watching TV would not be good for me. I need to stay busy.”
Again, Dupuis could stay pretty busy making a list of all of the memories from his career.
“Memories, lord, you could go down a complete list that would be very long,” Dupuis said. “It all comes down to the people. I could give you a list of hundreds of people through 37 years. I have had so many people that I can confide in and trust. There are people who have believed in me when others didn’t.”
Dupuis, who served four years as mayor of the town of Gueydan, in return, has always tried to be that person for others. He leans on something his father, the late C.P., and mother, Helen, who lives in Abbeville, always told him in regards to being a helping hand.
“I truly believe you treat others the way you want to be treated,” Dupuis said. “My parents taught me to treat people with love and kindness.”
Dupuis has a message for all those who have shown him plenty of that during his career.
“To all the schools, teachers and citizens,” Dupuis said, “to all the people I have ever been in contact with, thank you. I appreciate you.
“Thank you for making me a success.”