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The History of carverdale
In 1925 before desegregation, a German dairy farmer offered a one- room wooden farmhouse on Tanner Road serving as both Greater Macedonia Baptist Church and the first school for colored students of Independence Garden, currently known as Carverdale. A year later the worship and school building moved to Dancy Road and was named Fairbanks Colored School where Mrs. Clara Scott pioneered the way of learning and providing an education for 19 students from grades one to six for over 20 years.
In 1951, E.S. Waddy was named the new principal and 11 teachers joined the school. The name of was changed from Fairbanks Colored School to Fairbanks Elementary School. A library, band hall, and choir room was added.
Five years later and under the leadership of W.M.Batts, the school board approved a land purchase to expand Fairbanks Elementary. The school was named Carverdale School and served students from grades 1-12.
800 students were enrolled at Carverdale when the U.S. Department of Justice mandated desegregation in 1967. After the school board voted to close the school on Aug. 3, 1970, the Houston Community College System used the campus for several years. It has since been demolished, and the area is now home to industrial warehouses.
Reference
LaFaye Johnson Lee
LaFaye Johnson Lee was chosen as the namesake for Elementary #41. Lee spent all 35 of her years as an educator with Cypress-Fairbanks ISD before retiring in June 2003. Lee taught English at Carverdale High School, Dean Middle School, Cy-Fair High School and Jersey Village High School during her first 12 years and then served as a counselor at Arnold Middle School and Jersey Village for the next 17 years. She was named to a district-level position, serving as coordinator of academic achievement for five years before being named a director in 2002. Sadly, Mrs. Lee passed away on June 3, 2016. She is survived by her three children—John Jr., Christie and Courtney, who are all graduates of Jersey Village High School.
Bernice Fiest
Fiest was named in honor of Bernice Fiest, an educator who devoted 37 years of service to the young people of Texas and was certified by the state in seven areas of education. Before retiring in 1985, Mrs. Fiest worked as a teacher, coach, librarian, and principal. Mrs. Fiest was an exemplary role model for the students and frequently visited the school to read to kindergartners and attend special events.