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NEWS

Thank you for your interest in FSDB. As per our policy, all media inquiries must be referred to Communications & Public Relations for coordination with appropriate school personnel. Our Executive Director is the first point of contact for reporters/media organizations covering school-related news, programs and events. For sports-related information, reporters may work directly with the Athletic Director.

School News

Media Resources

Contacts

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Michael Johnson

Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations

PH: 904-827-2682

johnsonm@fsdbk12.org (preferred)

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Billy Lange

Athletic Director

PH: 904-827-2570

langeb@fsdbk12.org

Five Deaf Elementary Boys smiling at camera.

Info for the Media

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Advance Arrangements

  • Members of the media who wish to attend an upcoming school event or function must work directly and in advance with the Executive Director who will coordinate campus arrangements.

  • While FSDB will make every effort to accommodate media requests for access, we reserve the right to deny your request when it is believed the media's presence is unwarranted, may be disruptive, or interferes with classes or other school activities.

  • FSDB is committed to protecting and respecting the privacy of its students and their families in accordance with the Family and Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA).

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Photo & Video Authorizations

  • Reporters, photographers and videographers should work in advance with the Executive Director to confirm photo/video releases before filming, posting, printing or airing school-related images.

  • Outside organizations wishing to photograph or film students at school for commercial use must work in advance with the Executive Director, who will advise on a parent/guardian release for use of their student's image.

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Campus Visits

  • Members of the media must contact the Executive Director for permission before going to FSDB, otherwise they may be asked to leave the campus. Once advance arrangements are made with the Executive Director, reporters must check in at the Campus Police guardhouse (main entrance). Students and staff members will be advised that they have the right to refuse to be photographed, videotaped or interviewed.

Media Resources

In the News

Actor introduces audiences to the deaf world through performances using American Sign Language – ClickOrlando.com, Feb. 26, 2024

Winter Park man born deaf achieves dream of becoming chef at Disney World (Deaf Alumni) – WESH 2 News, June 4, 2023

2022-2023 Young Performers Program (BHS students and alumni) – Arts4AllFlorida.org, May 5, 2023

'Don't let anybody tell you what you can't do': FSDB vie for big finale – St. Augustine Record, April 14, 2023

FIRED UP: Florida School for the Deaf and Blind playing winning flag football – St. Augustine Record, April 2, 2023

All-Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns area: Meet the top boys basketball players of 2022-2023 – St. Augustine Record, March 19, 2023

Annual Golf Clinic for Deaf Teenager Continues to Inspire – First Coast News, March 8, 2023

Meet Kyle Bray of Saint Augustine (Blind Alumni) – Voyage Jacksonville, February 9, 2023

Teacher of the Year: Culinary, International Collaboration, and Drones? – The Division of Career and Adult Education, Feb. 1, 2023

NCSD host Mason-Dixon girls tournament – The Morganton News Herald, Jan. 31, 2023

Wrestling among most popular sports at Florida School for the Deaf and Blind – St. Augustine Record, Jan. 12, 2023

Run with a Vision (Video) – News4Jax.com, Jan. 5, 2023

ON FIRE: Young Florida School for the Deaf and Blind girls basketball off to fast start – St. Augustine Record, Jan. 4, 2023

WEIGHT IS OVER: Weightlifting finally reaches Florida School for the Deaf and Blind – St. Augustine Record, Dec. 1, 2022

NEW FLAME: Florida School for the Deaf and Blind basketball restarts, seeks last year's success – St. Augustine Record, Nov. 23, 2022

THIS WEEK IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY HISTORY: FSDB president Dr. Albert Hayne Walker dies in 1927 – St. Augustine Record, Nov. 20, 2022

The Next Wave: Blind athlete Khayree Lofton leads new wave of blind athletes at FSDB – St. Augustine Record, Sept. 20, 2022

Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Four to the FSDB Board of Trustees – Florida Governor Press Release, August 5, 2022

Golf Odyssey: Playing four holes with blind golfer William Pease (Blind P.E. Dept.) – St. Augustine Record, July 18, 2022

Braille Institute Names Winners of the 2022 Braille Challenge (Maely Porter, BEMS) – Braille Institute, June 27, 2022

Graduates of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind celebrate achievements – St. Augustine Record, May 27, 2022

‘A total package’: Kayla Debrow’s emergence as a must-watch player at Mike Glenn’s camp – Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 19, 2022

Trent Ferguson, Student Commencement Speaker, Found His Niche in Radio – South Florida State College, April 25, 2022

Deaf team members grow, inspire at Jacksonville Beach Chili’s (Tyler Powell, Alumnus) – News4Jax, April 14, 2022

SJC high school seniors to receive Citizenship Awards (Jose Giron-Ryes, BHS) – City of St. Augustine, April 12, 2022

Ripples of inspiration reach Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind after CODA's historic night at the Oscars (Luca-Bella Bonanno-White, DHS) – First Coast News, March 28, 2022

Best Picture 'CODA' is shedding light on the deaf, hard of hearing and their families (Tracie Snow) – News4Jax, March 28, 2022

Surprise! Jacksonville 11-year-old, inspired by sister, wins invention competition to help people with hearing loss (Daniela Torres, DMS) – First Coast News, March 23, 2022

Fiery Dragons: FSDB Girls' Basketball Program Starting to Grow – St. Augustine Record, March 7, 2022

FSDB is PLAYERS charity for Wednesday – Ponte Vedra Recorder, March 2, 2022

FSDB Cheerleading Team wins 3 tournaments – The Daily Moth, Feb. 24, 2022

Black History Month Spotlight: Jamie Mixon (Alumnus) – Gallaudet University, Feb. 17, 2022

Long time coming: FSDB girls hoops team treasures 1st playoff berth – News4Jax, Feb. 9, 2022

Flagler Alum, Marissa Harrer, Represents FSDB as Their District Teacher of the Year – Flagler College, Jan. 3, 2022

St. Johns Women of Distinction (Tracie Snow, President) | Video – Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Sept. 23, 2021

Learn Braille to help the blind and visually impaired - Florida NewsLine, Sept. 1, 2021

FSDB Blind grad, coach head to Tokyo for Paralympics (Daryl Walker Keith Young, PE Teacher) – St. Augustine Record, Aug. 18, 2021

Meet the Paralympians with Florida ties competing in Tokyo (Daryl Walker, Alumnus) – Tampa Bay Times, Aug. 18, 2021

What you can't see in these gorgeous eyes (Dwayne Lewis, BHS student) – First Coast News, Aug. 12, 2021

Snake Hunters Remove 223 Invasive Burmese Pythons from the Everglades in Annual Challenge (Brandon Call, DMS Science Teacher)Outdoor Life, Aug. 9, 2021

St. Augustine teens are finalists in international Braille Challenge Finals – First Coast News, July 29, 2021

Expanding American Sign Language’s scientific vocabulary (Mandy Houghton, Alumnus) – Chemical & Engineering News, July 11, 2021

Senior Heads to Ivy League Grad Studies After Graduation (Ryan McCleary, BHS Class of 2018) – University of Central Florida, July 7, 2021

Daryl Walker ready for another shot on Team USA goalball squad in Paralympics – News4Jax, June 23, 2021

Henry White Sr. spends 60 years giving back to the community that shaped his lifeSt. Augustine Record, June 14, 2021

U.S. Goalball Teams Announced For Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – USABA.org, June 9, 2021

Runnin' Down a DreamOcala Style, June 1, 2021

Drug Court Awareness Month – Second Judicial Circuit of Florida, May 24, 2021

National Park Foundation Provides Grants for Education Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic – National Parks, April 20, 2021

McCaul is First Alumnus to Chair Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees – The Florida Bar, April 16, 2021

Blind alumnus Owen McCaul leads by example as chair of the board of Florida SchoolTallahassee Democrat, Feb. 23, 2021

Earl Brigham: He Taught Us How to Care – Spectrum News 13, Feb. 19, 2021

Florida schools graduation rate hits record-high after standardized tests waived – News4Jax, Jan. 8, 2021

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind hires new presidentSt. Augustine Record, Nov. 2, 2020

The pandemic's impact on kids in the deaf/heard of hearing community – CBS News, Oct. 29, 2020 

North Shores Improvement Association donates $10,000 to FSDBSt. Augustine Record, Oct. 20, 2020

Bard College Appoints Marcus Roberts as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music – Bard College, Oct. 13, 2020

Remote instruction for students with visual impairments: Tips from schools in Florida, Texas Special Ed Connection, Oct. 2, 2020

Rays' Enrique Oliu has been Spanish-language broadcaster since inaugural first pitch in 1998 – ABC Action News Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, 2020

Governor Ron DeSantis appoints June Ann LeFors to the FSDB Board of Trustees – Florida Governor Press Release, Sept. 18, 2020

He calls baseball games by ear; without fans, his job is a lot harder – The New York Times, Sept. 11, 2020

Social distancing at FSDB – Action News Jax, Aug. 17, 2020

Scholarship awarded to high school graduates with disabilities – St. Augustine Record, Aug. 9, 2020

FSDB releases opening plans – First Coast News, July 15, 2020

P.E.O. provides scholarship grant for local valedictorian – St. Augustine Record, June 7, 2020

Valedictorian vignettes: FSDB – St. Augustine Record, June 4, 2020

Technology plays major role for FSDB students’ distance learning success – Palm Beach Post, May 7, 2020

Technology bridges the gap for deaf and blind studentsSt. Augustine Record, May 5, 2020

Dean's Medalist finds herself through philosophy – Arizona State University, April 15, 2020

Distance learning a bigger challenge for students who are blind, deaf during pandemic – First Coast News, April 13, 2020

St. Augustine Fire Department splits up crews to limit exposure to COVID-19 – News4Jax, April 10, 2020

Smiles, laughs a constant at Strano’s golf clinic for FSDB students – News4Jax, March 10, 2020

St. Augustine loses inaugural flag football game to FSDBSt. Augustine Record, March 4, 2020

President of FSDB announces retirement – St. Augustine Record, March 2, 2020

St. Augustine family to appear on Nickelodeon’s ‘The Crystal Maze’ – News4Jax, Feb. 21, 2020

Ashley the ArtistNext Gen Magazine, Feb. 13, 2020

FSDB: ‘Chronic shortage’ in braille teachers – News4Jax, Dec. 11, 2019

St. Augustine sailing hosts students from Florida school for deaf and blindSt. Augustine Record, Nov. 27, 2019

Concentrating on the fundamentals of assistive technology – edCircuit, Nov. 18, 2019

Gauging the growth of assistive technology – edCircuit, Nov. 12, 2019

School shoutout – Sign1News, Nov. 10, 2019

Mother and daughter team write and illustrate children's bookSt. Augustine Record, Aug. 25, 2019

A sure sign with Dr. Jeanne Prickett of the Florida School for the Deaf and BlindSt. Augustine Social, Aug. 16, 2019

Ron DeSantis appoints two to FSDB Board – Florida Politics, Aug. 11, 2019

She has no barriers: Bethany Baker UNFs first deaf nursing studentThe Florida Times-Union, June 28, 2019

FSDB students become sailors for a day – The Florida Times-Union, June 27, 2019

No sight needed: Radio station adds blind sportscaster – Fox 35 Orlando, June 7, 2019

Rays radio broadcaster brings his own vision to the game – Spectrum News 13, June 5, 2019

My blind son opened my eyes to the worldTallahassee Democrat, May 12, 2019

Navigating blindness with Marcus Roberts – Nuvo, May 3, 2019

Lincolnville museum honors second crop of living legends – St. Augustine Record, April 14, 2019

Florida School for Deaf and Blind coach takes home Coach of the Week honors – Jaguars.com, April 4, 2019

Rob Strano hosts 15th annual golf clinic for deaf and blind students – News4Jax, March 12, 2019

Success is a sign of what’s to come for the FSDB – First Coast News, Jan. 30, 2019

Apple pushes to teach coding to students who are deaf and blind – First Coast News, May 17, 2018

Funding denied again for FSDB – News4Jax, March 21, 2018

Blind swimmer overcomes family tragedy – First Coast News, Dec. 11, 2017

Rob Strano introduces deaf students to golf – News4Jax, May 9, 2017

Lawmakers steer $500 million to schools for construction – News4Jax, May 3, 2017

St. Augustine teacher among educators to win governor’s Shine Award – News4Jax, Jan. 24, 2017

St. Augustine Mayor declares Sept. 23 Ray Charles Day – First Coast News, Sept. 23, 2016

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind – St. Augustine Record, Feb. 29, 2016

In the News
News Releases

Photos & Mulitimedia

Links forthcoming.

Photos & Multimedia
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