University Laboratory School Welcomes Lathon as Assistant Principal for Secondary and Rumfellow as Elementary Principal
BATON ROUGE, LA — The University Laboratory School has announced the appointments of two administrators for the 2025–26 school year. Elecia Lathon, PhD, will serve as Assistant Principal for Secondary, and Dorothy “Dot” P. Rumfellow will serve as Interim Elementary Principal.
“Both Dr. Lathon and Ms. Rumfellow bring a student-centered mindset, decades of leadership experience, and a commitment to academic excellence that aligns with our mission as a model laboratory school,” said University Laboratory School Director Rob Lyles. “We are grateful to welcome Dot back to a role she knows so well and thrilled to have Elecia join our team. Their leadership will help guide us through a strong and focused school year.”
Lathon currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Elementary & Secondary Education for the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education. A seasoned educator with more than 25 years of experience in K–12 instruction, supervision and university-level teaching, Lathon is deeply committed to teacher development and student success. She holds a doctore and an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, and a master’s degree in educational administration from LSU. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from Southern University. Lathon is passionate about teacher recruitment, retention and preparation. Additionally, she has been recognized with the George Deer Distinguished Teaching Award, the Tiger Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award, and was recently featured in the fifth edition of The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong for her work on classroom management.
Dot Rumfellow brings more than 40 years of experience in education, including 12 years of prior service as elementary principal at ULS. In addition to her leadership at ULS, she has held principal and district-level administrative roles in East Baton Rouge Parish. She holds a master's degree in supervision and administration from LSU. Known for her strong relationships with families and her emphasis on whole-child development, Rumfellow’s return reflects a deep commitment to continuity, care and excellence at the elementary level.
Both appointments reflect the University Laboratory School’s continued investment in academic excellence and strong instructional leadership.
About the University Laboratory School
The University Laboratory School (ULS) is one of the six schools operated under the auspices of the Louisiana State University College of Human Sciences & Education. This model demonstration school exists to provide training opportunities for pre- and in-service teachers and to serve as a demonstration and educational research center. The school is located on the main campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Our motto is “Total Effort in Every Endeavor” and the University Laboratory School community aspires toward total effort in every endeavor for maximum student achievement through the development, implementation, and demonstration of exemplary programs and instructional practices.
Visit the University Laboratory School website.
About the College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.