Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind

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Staunton, VA
Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind

Now, as in 1839, the arms of the school are open wide for the deaf and blind children of Virginia.

VSDB exists to provide an environment which fosters self-confident students who are contributing citizens and life-long learners and to be a resource of excellence for the communities of Virginia who serve students with deafness and or blindness. One of the oldest schools in Virginia and the second of its kind in the world, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB), located in historic

and scenic Staunton, VA, was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly on March 31, 1838. As the school celebrates more than 170 years of continued excellence in educating deaf and blind children, it remains at the forefront of educational technology. The school utilizes some of the latest and most advanced audio-visual equipment and disability tailored computer applications in its classrooms to provide its students with the best education.

08/28/2026

VSDB is thrilled to host author Kerry O'Malley Cerra on September 15 at 12:30 pm - and, even better, YOU'RE invited! RSVP at https://bit.ly/VSDB-KerryCerra

Join us to learn more about her journey as a writer, her books, and the fascinating stories that inspire her work. Our students have been particularly interested in learning more about the story that inspired her book, The Gallaudet Eleven: The Story of NASA’s Deaf Bioastronauts, and we are looking forward to exploring more about that in the coming weeks - including a presentation from some of our students from the Blind Department who have attended NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

Kerry has also partnered with The Book Dragon here in Staunton to sell some of her books at this event, while she stays to sign them for you! Learn more about Kerry and her work by visiting her website https://www.kerryomalleycerra.com/

[Image Description: Flyer with information about the event and photos of Kerry as well as covers of her books: Hear Me, The Gallaudet 11, Make a Little Wave, Just a Drop of Water, and A Name Sign for Seraphina. Text reads: "VSDB invites you to meet author Kerry O'Malley Cerra. Join us for a special afternoon with award-winning deaf author Kerry O'Malley Cerra as she shares her journey as a writer, her books, and the fascinating stories that inspire her work. Kerry will talk about her writing process and her work bringing important stories to young readers—including the remarkable story of the Gallaudet 11, the Deaf men whose participation in NASA research helped advance our understanding of the human body's response to spaceflight. Come hear from Kerry, learn more about her books, and discover how real people and their stories can inspire us to see history, science, and possibility in new ways. September 15, 12:30 pm, VSDB Healy Auditorium. So we can best plan for our community guests, please RSVP at https://bit.ly/VSDB-KerryCerra.]

07/17/2026

As of July 17, 2026, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is accepting applications for the following vacancies:

• Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Science
• ASL/English Interpreter
• Housekeeping Worker
• Residential Advisor - 2nd Shift
• Residential Advisor - 3rd Shift
• Food Service Worker (Wage)

To apply, please visit - https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/jobs/search?page=1&query=vsdb.

07/12/2026

Listen Up, Virginia!

On July 11, VSDB was proud to host Lions Clubs members from across Virginia who are training for the ListenUp! Preschool Hearing Health Outreach Program, an exciting partnership that provides free hearing screenings for children enrolled in daycares, preschools, and similar programs. While most babies receive a hearing screening at birth, hearing loss can develop later—and some children who do not pass their newborn screening may be lost to follow-up. ListenUp! is helping close that gap by bringing hearing screenings directly to groups of young children (ages 2-5 years) in communities across the Commonwealth, supporting earlier identification and access to services when needed.
During yesterday's training, audiologist Meredith Heiner taught participants how to conduct Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) testing, and Lions members in District 24-L had the opportunity to practice their new skills with one another. The ListenUp! program began in Lions District 24-C (Southwest Virginia) and is now expanding to Lions Clubs across the state, with the goal of making screenings available statewide by early 2027!
We are grateful for the dedication of our Lions Club partners and excited to be part of an initiative that has the potential to make a meaningful difference for children and families across Virginia. For more information about this program, visit the ListenUp! section of our website at https://www.vsdb.k12.va.us/page/listenup or call the Lions Club program coordinators at 804-592-0499.

07/09/2026

🌱 Our Educational Farm is Blooming! 🌽🧄

Our Educational Farm has been growing all summer, and it's amazing to see everything flourishing! From fresh garlic and towering corn to a variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, this year's harvest is shaping up to be a great one.

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff Julie Roller and Kaela Patterson for caring for the farm throughout the summer, and an extra special shout-out to Todd Ashworth for his hard work and commitment. Your efforts make this space possible!

We're excited to use some of the harvest in our cafeteria and sell some at our harvest market while giving students meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities when they return.

🌿💚

07/04/2026

🎆 Happy Fourth of July from the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind! 🎆

This Independence Day is an especially meaningful one as we celebrate America's 250th birthday!

As we celebrate this historic occasion, we're grateful for the incredible students, families, staff, alumni, and friends who make our community so special. We wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and joyful Fourth of July filled with celebration, connection, and plenty of red, white, and blue! ❤️🤍💙

06/30/2026

As of June 30, 2026, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is accepting applications for the following vacancies.

• Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
• Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing – Science
• ASL/English Interpreter
• Housekeeping Worker

To apply, please visit - https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/jobs/search?page=1&query=vsdb.

06/26/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Jessica McMahon has been selected as the Principal of the Deaf Department, effective June 25, 2026.

Jessica McMahon was born into a Deaf family, making American Sign Language (ASL) her native language. She is a proud alumna of the Arkansas School for the Deaf, Gallaudet University, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Jessica has dedicated her career to serving Deaf students and their families. She has worked at three Deaf schools across Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, with the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind becoming her fourth residential school community. She has also served in a mainstream program with the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Throughout her career, Jessica has held a variety of roles, including dorm staff, teacher, Athletic Director, Principal, Chief Academic Officer, and ASL specialist. Each role has strengthened her passion for education, leadership, and creating meaningful opportunities for Deaf students.

Jessica is excited to join VSDB and looks forward to learning about the school's rich history, building relationships, and working alongside the entire VSDB community. She is eager for the year ahead and hopes to make it a great one together!

06/25/2026

We are proud to share that VSDB has been recognized through the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP)! 🌱
This annual designation, awarded by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), recognizes organizations that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through responsible environmental practices, energy efficiency, and thoughtful policies.

As a campus , we continue to make intentional choices that support both environmental stewardship and responsible resource management. VSDB remains dedicated to creating a campus that is environmentally conscious, efficient, and prepared for the future.

We are grateful for the efforts of our staff members who help make sustainability a part of our everyday work. Together, we are building a greener future while continuing to prepare students for life.

06/20/2026

May your summer be as carefree and relaxed as these preschoolers, who somehow transformed lunchtime into spa time. 🥒✨
What started with one student and a couple cucumber slices quickly became the hottest wellness trend in the cafeteria. We'd say our youngest students have summer vacation mode activated. 😄☀️
(We're also pretty sure these little ones have self-care figured out better than the rest of us! Maybe they are the newest upcoming CommonHealth recruits!)

Address

104 VSDB Drive
Staunton, VA
24401

Website

http://vsdb.k12.va.us/

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