Dozier, Verna J.

Verna Josephine Dozier was born in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 1917. She was the older of two daughters of Lonna and Lucie Dozier. Verna's sister, Lois Gertrude, was born on May 1, 1919. Verna attended and graduated early from Dunbar High School, and then enrolled in Howard University. She graduated from Howard in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in English and then received her master's from Howard in English Literature the following year.

After receiving her master's degree, Verna began working for the DC Public Schools system. She taught English at Brown Junior High and Cardoza and Ballou High Schools totaling a combined 34 years. In 1959, at Ballou, Verna was named Chairman of the English Department and was advisor for the school newspaper. She would progress professionally and, in 1968, became Curriculum Specialist in English and a team leader for the Urban Teachers Corps. In 1972, as Assistant Director for the Department of English, Verna helped create and lead a Title III grant to develop new curricula in collaboration with both teachers and students. At the age of 57, Verna retired from the DC Public Schools system and started to focus on what would become her second career.

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