Diana Opsina was born in Cali, Colombia. At the age of 15, her family moved to America and entered a traditional public high school.
Though she had been a good student in Colombia, she was overwhelmed and confused in the English-speaking high school. She spent an entire year with no interpreter or translator, frustrated and challenged.
When she enrolled at FSDB in 2002, she was placed in the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. She began to develop her English and ASL skills.
"I was finally able to understand what was being taught and I was very motivated," she said. "My ESOL teacher really made a difference for me, and I became comfortable using English and ASL.
Ms. Ospina graduated from FSDB in 2007 and went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Deaf Education from the University of North Florida. She returned to her alma mater in 2016 and has been a valuable member of the ESOL Department, working with our Hispanic deaf students. Diana connects with the Hispanic Deaf students at FSDB on so many levels.
Diana spends her free time with her sisters, nephews and adorable Chihuahua, Taquito. She is an exceptional example of perseverance and determination in the face of many obstacles! She truly believes in the ability to succeed with whatever it is you want to by working hard. We are very proud and fortunate to have her working in the ESOL Department at FSDB!
About FSDB
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is a tuition-free state public school in historic St. Augustine, available to eligible pre-K and K-12 students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired or deafblind. The FSDB experience gives students the edge to do more, be more, and achieve more, fulfilling our vision of preparing them for a lifetime of success. Early intervention and outreach services are also available throughout the state of Florida. Private donations help to support programs that directly benefit students which are not covered by state funds. To inquire about enrollment, contact Parent Services at 904-827-2212 or 904-201-4527 VP. To schedule a campus tour, contact Outreach Services at bit.ly/fsdbtours. For more information, visit fsdbk12.org.