FSDB President

This week has been truly remarkable. Congratulations are in order for both of our graduating senior classes of 2026.

First photo is of FSDB BHS graduation showing graduating seniors standing and facing the audience in Kirk Auditorium with me standing center stage, celebrating after I officially announced that they earned their diplomas with confetti falling through the air, and the second photo of the same setup is shown for DHS graduation. In the background, displayed on the stage screen, is the photo of the graduating class with me as we all stood in front of the FSDB sign on campus. Board of Trustee members are sitting on the stage to the left and school leaders and commencement speakers are seated on the stage to the right.

Thespians in the house. 🎭

EXCELLENT ALL AROUND!

Over spring break, FSDB Blind High School’s Thespian Troupe 11048 attended the Florida State Senior Thespian Festival, joining nearly 16,000 thespians from across Florida for an unforgettable week of learning, creativity, and performance.

Our students participated in workshops with celebrities from stage and screen, including several Florida Thespian alumni, and experienced outstanding mainstage productions such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Our troupe competed in three adjudicated events and earned an EXCELLENT rating in all three.

I had the chance to meet with our Thespians this week to snap a selfie of them with their sponsors in front of the stage in the Music Building ask them why they wanted to join the club and what motivated them to go to states. Here were there of their responses:
- I joined because my teacher knew I had potential, and once I found my group, it became something really fun.
- Theater was way outside my comfort zone. I am athletic and never saw myself as a performer, but seeing my friends enjoy it made me try.
- I did not realize how much I loved the arts until I got involved.

These students did not just compete. They grew and shined! We are incredibly proud of them and thankful for our amazing sponsors who made this happen on SPRING BREAK! Can't thank Ms. Wohl and Mr. Botello enough for supporting these amazing students.

Congratulations to Thespian Troupe 11048 for excellent work representing FSDB.

Today I had the opportunity to attend the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC) Board of Directors meeting.

I’m so grateful that FSDB is part of this amazing non-profit educational consortium, created to support small and rural districts across Northeast Florida. In addition to serving on the Board, I benefit tremendously as a leader — from networking with fellow superintendents to strengthening my own leadership skills.

Being a NEFEC district provides FSDB with invaluable services, including:
• Educational Technology Services
• FDLRS: Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System
• Professional learning for instructional staff
• School counselor training and resources
• Skyward student information system support
• Title IV support
• Title IX, Part A: McKinney-Vento Program support

NEFEC continuously helps FSDB ensure that students and staff have the tools, resources, and professional support they need to thrive.
Learn more about how FSDB benefits from being part of NEFEC:
🔗 https://www.nefec.org/services/

I don't know why I didn't think of sharing these Thursday's posts over here on the President's page! New goal for the new year...post more. :D

Behind the Scenes at FSDB!

I thought it would be fun to share a peek at what goes on behind the camera as I record the welcome letter for our upcoming Clerc Classic XXIV Boys and Girls Basketball and Cheerleading Tournament!

As President, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to be in front of the camera—whether for photos or videos taken by students, staff, or the media. Truth be told, I still get butterflies when the lens is pointed my way! I feel most confident when I’ve had time to practice, but sometimes I speak straight from the heart.

What makes it easier? Talking about our amazing school, programs, students, staff, and families. I’m never at a loss for words when the topic is FSDB!

Kudos to all our students and staff who also bravely step in front of the camera for social media, our website, or media affiliates. One of our Strategic Priorities is that EVERYONE KNOWS OUR NAME, and I’m grateful we’ve all rallied behind this strategic goal with a grin on our faces.

Check out the full Clerc Classic Tournament welcome letter and video here:
👉 https://clercclassic.com/letters-from-the-hosts/

Photo Description: The photo collage posted, has six candid photos of me sitting outside in our "mall area" between Walker Hall and Memorial Hall/Kirk Auditorium in front of one of our garden boxes with poinsettias behind me. I have my tripod/ring light pointed in my direction as I record the Clerc Classic welcome letter in ASL.

Can you catch the ASL signs in each photo (photo collage in this post)?

🔹 Top left: “Clerc”
🔹 Top middle: (honestly, I have no idea!)
🔹 Top right: “team”
🔹 Middle right: “wonderful”
🔹 Bottom right: “tournament”
🔹 Large photo: “welcome”

So proud of our Communication and Public Relations team!!! . https://www.facebook.com/share/GViNMHXEL4zZjZDM/?mibextid=0TepDJ

www.facebook.com

My favorite part about this post is seeing former students’, staff members’, and families’ name pop up. 🥰

Say Hello to Tracie C. Snow, our FSDB President!

Tracie started working at FSDB in the fall of 1995. She worked many positions before before working as FSDB President. Listed Below are the positions she worked, from first to current:

-Classroom teacher for the Deaf Department (High School -Special Needs, Middle School & 2nd Grade)
-Reading Specialist
-Director of Curriculum and Professional Development
-Adminstrator of Instructional Services
-FSDB President

Tracie has also worked as Jr. NAD sponsor, Student Concil sponsor, interpreter, Assistant Cross Country Coach, and FSDB's first girls soccer coach!

Traice's husband, David Snow, was first hired at FSDB, then she was hired right before school started that fall.

"We did not know how lucky we were to start our career journey here" shared Tracie.

She shared that FSDB is unique because we are the only school of our kind in Florida, and the largest school in the nation serving both students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deafblind.

"The students, staff, and families make us unique and special" stated Tracie.

Tracie has thirty years worth of memories at FSDB, which makes it challenging to choose one. She has loved her time as a teacher, coach, leader, co-worker, and parent.

When Tracie is not at work, she loves spending time with her family, cooking, gardening, and crafting. She also wanted to share that her favorite color is Glitter!

FSDB loves you, Tracie!

FSDB job fair today until 12:00pm. Wonderful meeting people from the community interested in joining our team! Check out our career page on our website for more information. https://www.fsdbk12.org/careers. Next job fair is January 15.

Photo: 2 President Snows! President Snow standing in front of a the “Welcome” banner which has a photo of her from the 2022 staff welcome back picnic smiling and waiving to the camera.

Pep rally fun! Sitting with our ELC students who assisted me with crowning our Homecoming King and Queen.