Deaf High School

The Florida School for the Deaf High School program provides eligible students an opportunity to learn in a caring, safe, and unique environment. We prepare our students to be literate, employable, and independent lifelong learners. Reading is the key to success, and we strive to encourage and empower our students through All Dragons Read, our cross-curricular guided reading program.

Each classroom is equipped with a SMART Board (interactive white board), projector, and computer. Many classrooms have document cameras as well. Each Deaf High School student has the opportunity to participate in our One-to-One Laptop Program, which provides a unique and powerful learning tool, as more and more of the curriculum is online or in electronic format.

Extracurricular activities include our myriad sports teams, recreation department activities, class competition activities, Student Council, Junior National Association of the Deaf (NAD), OJA Expedition (Outdoor Club), Academic Bowl, Dance Troupe, Night Library, and Night Walk-in Tutoring.

An array of support services can assist each student:

  • Reading Specialist
  • Math Specialist
  • Instructional Assistants / Teacher Aides
  • Guidance Counselors
  • Behavior Specialist
  • Coordinator of Student Conduct
  • Social Worker
  • Interpreters / Language Facilitators
  • IEP Coordinator
  • Audiologists
  • Speech & Language Pathologists
  • After-school Tutors

Academic Expectations

Students in the Deaf High School pursue one of two diploma programs: Standard Diploma or Special Diploma. Students who have not attained the minimum state graduation requirements shall be retained at the end of their senior year. They may return to FSDB in the fall to continue working toward a high school diploma. Upon completion of all the requirements, the student receives a diploma.

A student earning a Special Diploma may return to FSDB as a continuing student in the Deaf High School to pursue either a Standard Diploma or in the Career Education and Transition (CET) High School for vocational training here on the FSDB campus or at the nearby First Coast Technical College.

FSDB’s curriculum is aligned with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards , the Florida Department of Education’s list of goals and benchmarks for students in each grade.

All Deaf High School 9th and 10th graders remain in the Standard Diploma program, and they are required to take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). After receiving final results of the 10th grade FCAT scores, students, parents, and staff may discuss alternate diploma program options. At that time in the IEP process, a determination may be made that some students may be best served in the Special Diploma program.

Students receiving a Level 1 or Level 2 score on their FCAT Reading and Math sections are required to take Intensive Math and/or Intensive Reading classes along with their regular math and language arts classes.

Assistant Principal

Brent Bechtold .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (904) 827-2550
High School Calendar

Administrative Assistant

Diane Altork .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (904) 827-2550

Coordinator of Student Conduct

George Boyd .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (904) 827-2550

Guidance Counselors

Tempa Plecker -Freshmen, Sophomores, and Standard Diploma Juniors and Seniors (904) 827-2556

Teachers

Mary Ann Antal – Language Arts/American Sign Language (ASL)
Lia Ferrante Science and Dance Troupe
Erin Florence – Training Specialist
Lauren Fox – Language Arts
Dena Hackett – Social Studies
Dianne Hodgins – Language Arts
Shannon Lally – Science
Vicky Magliocchino – Language Arts
Richard Malcolm – Math
Julie McDonald – Social Studies
Carol McReynolds – Language Arts
Mandy Nolte – Reading
Andrea Rapoza – Math
Renato Sindicic – Math
Matt Smith – Math
Mohan Varthakavi – Math
Amanda Willard – Science
Sally Ann Zwicker – Language Arts
Colette Cook – Educational Diagnostician

Support Staff

Brenda Albury – Reading Specialist (904) 827-2859
Linnea Aldridge – School Psychologist (904) 827-2243
Cheryl Anderson – Mainstreaming Coordinator (904) 827-2297
Ryan Anderson – IEP Coordinator (904) 827-2569
Amy Bassett – Audiologist (Juniors, Seniors, and Continuing Ed.) (904) 827-2253
Sue Clark – Math Specialist (904) 827-2897
Carrie Cobb – Instructional Assistant (Learning Opportunity Center) (904) 827-2750
Pam Crawford – Speech & Language Pathologist (904) 827-2206
Alesia Baatz – Behavior Specialist (904) 827-2618
Maria Hernandez – ESOL Language Arts Teacher (904) 827-2528
Tiffany Kawohl – Learning Opportunity Center Teacher (904) 827-2750
Jacquelyn Lally – Transition Coordinator (904) 827-2687
Audrey Largent – Data Manager (904) 827-2505
Kathy Mintle – Teacher Aide (904) 827-2540
Letty Calderon – Social Worker (904) 827-2246
Randall Hancock – Instructional Aide (904) 827-2540
Sally Satin – Speech & Language Pathologist (904) 827-2936
Ann Smith – Teacher Aide (904) 827-2540
Dottie Smith – Teacher Aide (904) 827-2540
Diana Taglia – Instructional Aide (904) 827-2540
Zila Wapinski – Audiologist (Freshmen and Sophomores) (904) 827-2249
Jazmin Weaver – Teacher Aide (904) 827-2540
Linda Wesley – Alternative Behavior Center Coordinator (904) 827-2606
Wendy Williams – Mental Health Counselor (904) 827-2891