CTE Showcase and Post High School Pathways
February 24, 2023
Parents and family members of enrolled FSDB students are invited to attend this fun and educational event. Visit the CTE Showcase to see our students in action as they demonstrate their skills and provide interactive opportunities. Participate in a Parent University Panel Discussion to learn about the various opportunities and pathways for our students post-graduation.
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CTE Showcase
Learn about Robotics, Drone, Culinary, Horticulture, D&B Designs, Build a Tradesman Construction, Career Experience, On-campus work program, Print Shop, 3d Animation/Art Class, and Photography/Technology.
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Post High School Pathways
Speakers from Student Accessibility Services at the University of North Florida, Florida Coast Technical College, Division of Blind Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, FSDB Alumni professionals and more.
Post High School Pathway Panel Discussion
Learn about the various opportunities and pathways for our students post-graduation. We will have speakers from Student Accessibility Services at the University of North Florida, Florida Coast Technical College, Division of Blind Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, FSDB Alumni professionals and more. Read the bios of our panelists below. Click the arrows to view more tabs.
Panelist Bios
Dan O'Connor
Division of Blind Services
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Dan O’Connor holds a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Mental Health Counseling and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. He has been with the Division of Blind Services for 17.5 years, with much of this time spent as both a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and a Transition Counselor. For the past three years, he has acted as the District Administrator for the Jacksonville and the Gainesville satellite offices. Mr. O’Connor is active in the disability community, including being on the Mayor’s Disability Council and the Duval County Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board. He has also had previous involvement on the Elections Advisory Panel, the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission, and the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind. Before working at the Division of Blind Services, Mr. O’Connor worked as an Independent Living Coordinator at the Center for Independent Living in Jacksonville. His duties included assisting with the core services of Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Mentoring, and Advocacy. Also, he later provided guidance to individuals with disabilities regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) employment incentives and how working may affect their SSA benefits.
Mr. O’Connor has been married for 28 years and is proud to have four girls who are now successful women. He also has twelve grandchildren. Even though he grew up in the Midwest, he has lived in Jacksonville, Florida, for most of his life. Mr. O’Connor has a younger brother living in Chicago and a younger sister with some developmental and intellectual disabilities, currently living with his parents in Mississippi.
Schedule
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
CTE Showcase – Knowles Hall
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8:30 – 9 AM
Northrup Grumman Presentation – Kirk Auditorium
11:30 AM – 1 PM
Lunch – Dragon's Lair
1:15 – 2 PM
Parent University Panel: Post High School Pathways – Kirk Auditorium
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Jay Boyle, Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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Stevie Fenton, Vocational Rehabilitation Center
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Chris Forse, Principal of FCTC
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Hillary Norman, Technology Teacher at FSDB
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Dan O'Conner, Rehabilitation Center for the Blind Division of Blind Services
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Tara Rowe, Student Accessibility Services of UNF
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Franklin Stewart, Coordinator of Student Enterprises at FSDB
2 – 2:30 PM
Individual or small group discussions with our panelist – Dragon's Lair