Pastor Darwan T. Lazard
The Reverend Darwan T. Lazard is a life-long resident of Ville Platte and Evangeline Parish, LA. He was born in Ville Platte and reared by his late maternal grandmother, Mrs. Pearl LeDay Godfrey. Reverend Lazard is the son of Ida Gail Jack and Michael James Lazard.
He is married to the former Justina M. Joseph of Opelousas. They are the parents of Darwan II and twins, Kayla and Caleb. Reverend Lazard was educated in the public schools of Ville Platte. He is a 1986 graduate of Ville Platte High School.
Reverend Lazard earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Studies Education in 1992 from the University of
Southwestern Louisiana (USL), which is now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL). He began his teaching career in 1993 in Lafayette, LA. Later that year, Reverend and Mrs. Lazard accepted teaching positions at James Stephens Elementary in Ville Platte.
In 1995, Reverend Lazard graduated from Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge with a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration & Supervision. Early in his career in the field of education, Rev. Lazard served as a classroom teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal.
After 7½ years (1998-2005) of successful principal-ships at 3 different schools with various grade levels, Pre-Kindergarten thru 12th grade, Rev. Lazard was promoted to serve in the following positions: Supervisor of Elementary Education, Desegregation Compliance Officer and Parish Administrator/Assistant Superintendent of Schools.
After 9½ years (2007-2016) in the district’s second highest-ranking position, Rev. Lazard was selected to lead the Evangeline Parish School District by a historic and unanimous vote on December 5, 2016. His term as Superintendent begin January 1, 2017, and he is believed to be the youngest and first unanimous choice for the Superintendent’s position in the history of Evangeline Parish, which was created in 1911.
Reverend Lazard’s delivered his first sermon December 7, 1997, and in February 1999, he was ordained into the Gospel Ministry. His ministerial preparations include studies at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and various religious training seminars and workshops.
On June 1, 2008, Reverend Lazard was unanimously selected to replace the retiring Rev. M. L. Thomas. On November 1, 2008, he was installed as the 6th pastor of the historic Ninth Missionary Baptist Church in a ceremony dubbed as “The Changing of the Guards”. The church has been in existence since March 1, 1873.
Reverend Lazard serves as 1st Vice President of the Louisiana Home & Foreign Missions Baptist Convention, Inc. and Congress President of the Eastern 7th District Missionary Baptist Association. He is a former Youth President of the National Baptist Convention of America (NBCA) International, Inc. and, currently, serves as NBCA Parliamentarian.
His community involvements include: President & Board Chairman of Gabriel Villa, Inc., Member of the Ville Platte Rotary Club, Regional Chairman of the Southwest Louisiana Superintendents’ Association (SWLSA), Former Member of Cabot Corporation’s Community Advisory Panel (CAP), Past Board Chairman of Evangeline Community Action Agency, Inc. (ECAA) and Former Board Member of Ville Platte Medical Center, Inc.
Above all, Reverend Lazard is a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.
(Updated 1-1-2020)
