Our Mission
- Uniting people and resources to provide quality services that are
- accessible to the Doyle Community.
Our Vision
A place where needs are met, lives are enriched, and potential is achieved.
Our History
The Doyle School in Kerrville, Texas, began as an African American school in 1909. The local African American community raised $53 to move the frame building of the former school for white students, which was no longer needed after a new school was built. Anna W. Doyle, a longtime educator who would serve as the head teacher at the Doyle School for nearly two decades, donated the land upon which the relocated building was sited.
The one-room school had no utilities until running water was installed in 1920 and electric lights were installed in 1923. The African American population in Kerrville was small and only 25 students from five north Kerrville families attended. The present school building was built in 1930. Throughout the years, the school expanded to include three classrooms, an auditorium, two bathrooms, and a storage area. As enrollment grew—to about 75 students by 1940—educational and extracurricular opportunities were added, including athletic teams, cheerleaders, a choir, and a marching band. In addition to teaching traditional academic subjects, the Doyle School offered classes in theater, music, and home economics, providing further educational enrichment.
The Kerrville ISD schools were integrated in 1963 which led to the integration of all students into a single school system. The integration of the Kerrville schools reduced the use of the Doyle School to one for elementary students. In 1970, Doyle became a kindergarten campus as an extension of Starkey Elementary School. The Doyle School Community Center was established when the Doyle School building was purchased from Kerrville ISD in 2003.
The Doyle community is a blend of African American and Hispanic cultures. A flourishing community where everyone knew and looked after each other emerged in the 1940s. Restaurants, dance halls, and churches with thriving congregations were the norm. A change in zoning laws inhibited commerce in the neighborhood. Doyle business owners were unable to pass their businesses to the next generation of their families when they retired, nor could they sell them to others, and the community slowly began to deteriorate.
The Doyle neighborhood has been affected by social and economic inequities, including poverty, lack of education, few employment opportunities, lack of accessible public transportation, food scarcity, and lack of affordable medications and primary/mental healthcare.
In 2020, the Hope for Health Collaborative shone a light on the Doyle community and provided additional staff to support programs to address citizens’ needs. This multi-faceted project was focused on reconciliation and repairing a century of structural racism, a goal which required strong partnerships among community stakeholders who were dedicated to change.
The Board and staff of the Doyle Community Center are dedicated to helping others and preserving the heritage and culture of this historic area of Kerrville.
The one-room school had no utilities until running water was installed in 1920 and electric lights were installed in 1923. The African American population in Kerrville was small and only 25 students from five north Kerrville families attended. The present school building was built in 1930. Throughout the years, the school expanded to include three classrooms, an auditorium, two bathrooms, and a storage area. As enrollment grew—to about 75 students by 1940—educational and extracurricular opportunities were added, including athletic teams, cheerleaders, a choir, and a marching band. In addition to teaching traditional academic subjects, the Doyle School offered classes in theater, music, and home economics, providing further educational enrichment.
The Kerrville ISD schools were integrated in 1963 which led to the integration of all students into a single school system. The integration of the Kerrville schools reduced the use of the Doyle School to one for elementary students. In 1970, Doyle became a kindergarten campus as an extension of Starkey Elementary School. The Doyle School Community Center was established when the Doyle School building was purchased from Kerrville ISD in 2003.
The Doyle community is a blend of African American and Hispanic cultures. A flourishing community where everyone knew and looked after each other emerged in the 1940s. Restaurants, dance halls, and churches with thriving congregations were the norm. A change in zoning laws inhibited commerce in the neighborhood. Doyle business owners were unable to pass their businesses to the next generation of their families when they retired, nor could they sell them to others, and the community slowly began to deteriorate.
The Doyle neighborhood has been affected by social and economic inequities, including poverty, lack of education, few employment opportunities, lack of accessible public transportation, food scarcity, and lack of affordable medications and primary/mental healthcare.
In 2020, the Hope for Health Collaborative shone a light on the Doyle community and provided additional staff to support programs to address citizens’ needs. This multi-faceted project was focused on reconciliation and repairing a century of structural racism, a goal which required strong partnerships among community stakeholders who were dedicated to change.
The Board and staff of the Doyle Community Center are dedicated to helping others and preserving the heritage and culture of this historic area of Kerrville.