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When Deyshia Hargrave stood up to ask a question about the superintendent’s salary at Monday’s Vermilion Parish School Board meeting, she had no intention of starting a movement.
Hargrave said she attended the school board meeting to best serve her students and the community.
“I teach kids daily to treat everyone with respect and to speak out when they witness something that is wrong,” Hargrave said Thursday.
Hargrave asked why the Superintendent Jerome Puyau was in line for a raise while teachers have not received a pay increase in 10 years. Moments after she posed the question, an officer removed Hargrave from the meeting in handcuffs.
“Not only was I denied my First Amendment rights,” Hargrave said, “I was treated with shocking disrespect.”
And it started a movement.
More than 200 supporters gathered in Magdalen Square in downtown Abbeville Thursday afternoon for the #standbydeyshia” community rally. Those supporters, including many local educators, chanted “Stand by Deyshia” on several instances during the hour-long event. Signs with messages backing the Rene Rost Middle School teacher dotted the square.
Jacob Gaspard, whose 10-year-old daughter is one of Hargrave’s students, spoke about his daughter’s favorite teacher.
“Deyshia stood up,” Gaspard said. “We’re all here standing up. I’m a parent and I am standing here. That is the kind of teacher I want for my kids. When something is wrong, stand up and say something. Don’t sit back, say something. It took one person who is maybe five-feet tall to stand up and make a change. Imagine what can happen when you all stand up. Change is going to happen and it’s going to be awesome.
“Thank you, Deyshia.”
Shelly Byron, vice president of the Vermilion Association of Educators, said during the rally that teachers will indeed stand together.
“We will rise together to right this injustice,” Byron said. “Rise up. One voice can impact many. Deyshia Hargrave’s voice made the world aware of the inequality in education in Vermilion Parish and districts across this nation. Rise up for educators and support staff.
“Our combined voice is powerful and will bring the change we seek.”
Hargrave said one thing will not change, how much the teachers care about the students.
“Teachers work hard every day,” Hargrave said. “We love your kids.”
Hargrave said she does want what happened to her to be a spark that encourages those with concerns to go to meetings and be involved.
“If me getting arrested doesn’t get you to come out,” Hargrave said, “I don’t know what will. “Today my heart is broken, but my will is not. What happened to me should not dissuade others from speaking out.
“I hope and pray that my experience will empower you.”

Miss Malani Claire Husband and Mr. Drake Sullivan Hoffpauir, both of Erath, were joined in Holy Matrimony during an evening ceremony held on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath, Louisiana.
Father Bill Melancon officiated the 6:30 p.m. evening ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Mark and Shelly Guilbeaux Broussard of Erath, Louisiana, and Henry Husband of Abbeville, Louisiana. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Guidry of Erath, the late Prentice J. Guilbeaux I, Mr. and Mrs. Elmond Husband of Abbeville, and Jane Broussard and the late Howard Broussard of Erath.
The groom is the son of Mrs. Rachel Landry Hoffpauir of Erath, and the late Joel Hoffpauir. His grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Landry of Erath, and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hoffpauir of Kaplan.
The ceremony readers were Robin Broussard, cousin of the bride and Robin Landry, godmother of the groom.
Serving as ushers were Tristan Migues and Joshua Hoffpauir, cousins of the groom; Gabriel Guilbeaux, cousin of the bride and William Boudreaux, friend of the groom. The program attendant was Jimmie Moreland, friend of the groom.
The mother of the bride was escorted by her husband, Mark Broussard. She wore a flattering V-back top with satin-cuffed ¾ length sleeves, finished with Swarovski buttons, and a floor skimming satin skirt of Navy blue.
The mother of the groom was escorted by her son, the groom, Drake Hoffpauir. She wore an elegant, pewter Guipure French lace, floor length mermaid-sweetheart style dress with sweep brush train, accented by a scalloped Guipure French lace edge. The beaded lace dress was worn with a ¾ length sleeve beaded lace bolero.
Escorted by her grandfather, Ronnie Guidry, the bride wore a stunning, ivory A-line Soterro and Midgley Walker Rose wedding gown. The gown of Alencon lace and tulle was adorned with floral embroidery adding rich texture and dimension, the Alencon lace cap sleeve supported a soft scoop neckline accented by a scalloped lace edge, while sparkling Swarovski crystal details drew the eye to the natural waist.
The chapel length train finished with a scalloped lace edge fell gently behind. A zipper closure finished with crystal buttons and inner corset supported the bodice. She also wore a fingertip length, scalloped edge veil of ivory Alencon lace.
The bride carried a lavish cascading bouquet featuring a lovely mix of pink, blush, and marsala peonies, roses, larkspur, lilies of the Incas, baby’s breath, and choice greenery. A keepsake rosary from the bride’s mother adorned the bouquet. The best man held the bride’s wedding band in a special ring bag handmade from a shirt of the groom’s father.
Ashlyn Suire, friend of the bride, served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Courtney Broussard, sister of the bride; Arianne Hebert, friend of the bride; Bridget Bailey, family friend of the bride and groom, and Nicolette Homes, cousin of the groom. Flower girl was Miranda Guilbeaux, godchild of the bride. Each attendant wore a matching, floor length Marsala dress and carried a similar bouquet of the bride.
Drew Hoffpauir, brother of the groom stood beside the groom as best man. Groomsmen included Dylon Hoffpauir and Dax Hoffpauir, brothers of the groom; Bryce Comeaux and Kyler Daigle, friends of the groom. Ring bearer was Jasper Guilbeaux, cousin of the bride. Each attendant wore a slate gray Pronto Uomo Vintage suit with Marsala suspenders.
Following the ceremony, a reception celebrating the newly married couple, was held at the VN Hall in Abbeville, LA. The venue was beautifully decorated with soft white lighting, elegant draping, greenery and table top centerpieces featuring the rich wedding colors of gold and Marsala. The celebration menu was catered by Cajun Commander Café & Catering of Lafayette.
The timeless engagement, bridal, wedding ceremony and celebration pictures were captured by Alysse Danielle Photography of Parks.
The beautiful, 4-tiered wedding cake, decorated with cascading flowers matching the bride’s bouquet, was made of red velvet and butter pecan filling. The wedding cake was made by Guidry’s of New Iberia. The groom’s cake was a replica of The Lord of the Rings book, made of chocolate filling, and made by Kimbla Cakes of Morgan City.
An evening rehearsal dinner honoring the couple was hosted by the groom’s mother and brothers, at her home on Thursday, January 4, 2018.
After a seven-day honeymoon cruise to Belize, the couple will reside in Erath, La.

A Vermilion Parish teacher found herself being escorted out of the school board meeting in handcuffs after she was arrested by a school board security guard.

Deyshia Hargrave, a teacher at Rene Rost Middle School, stood up and had a question for Superintendent Jerome Puyau during superintendent comments at the end of the meeting.

Hargrave wanted to know how Puyau can accept a new three-year  contract that came with  a $30,000 raise at a time when no other school employee will be getting a raise anytime soon.

“I have a serious issue with a superintendent or any person in  position of leadership getting any type of raise. This is a slap in the face to all the teachers, cafeteria workers or any other support staff,” said Rene Rost teacher Deyshia Hagrave who stood up in the audience   and made a comment after the board awarded Puyau a new contract with a raise.  “We work very hard with very little to maintain  the salaries that we have.”

She reminded the  school board and Puyau that it was the teachers and students who have met state goals, yet they have not gotten a raise.

“It is a sad, sad day to be a teacher in Vermilion Parish,” she added. “At the top,  that is not where kids learn. It is in the classrooms. We are not getting a dime from that. That is unspeakable.”

Not long after her comments,  Puyau began to address her questions while Hargrave stood. While this was going on, Reggie Hilts the school board security guard, approached Hargrave and told her to  leave the meeting.

She tried to make her point to the security guard that she had the floor,  and Puyau was giving her an answer.

Reggie replied, “You are going to leave, or I am going to remove you,” while putting his hand on his handcuffs.

It is not known if Reggie was told to escort Hargrave out of the room or he did it on his own.

Reggie asked her to leave again and began to grab her arm. She pulled back and said, “Don’t put your hands on me.”

Hargrave walked out into the hall and Reggie followed.  Something occurred  in the hall, and five-foot tall Hargrave fell to her knees and  Reggie put the handcuffs on her, then arrested her in the hall as the meeting continued.  He escorted her to his squad car and then radioed the Abbeville Police Department to send a patrol unit. When the unit arrived,  Reggie escorted her into the unit and then the unit drove off to the Abbeville Police Station

An hour after the meeting was over, Puyau said no charges will be filed against Hargrave.

She was booked into the Abbeville Police Department and a mug shot of her was taken at the police department.  She bonded out that night.  

The Abbeville Police Department has released this statement: “In response to the numerous requests for the teacher’s booking information, the Abbeville Police Department is cooperating as directed by law. The Abbeville Police Department did not arrest the teacher.  

Due to the location of her arrest and the arresting agency’s jurisdiction, which includes the city limits of Abbeville, she was booked in and bonded from the local police department.”

The city police will also not be pressing charges against Hargrave.