CTE Showcase

February 9, 2024

Parents and family members of enrolled FSDB students are invited to attend this fun educational event. The CTE Showcase is a day devoted to showcasing the Career and Technical Education department of FSDB. The students in our CTE classes work hard to develop skills that last a lifetime. Visit the CTE Showcase to see our students in action as they demonstrate their skills and provide interactive opportunities.

Many students from FSDB will be represented, along with several off-campus opportunities for the students after leaving FSDB. This is a great opportunity to learn more about different pathways for the future

CTE Showcase

Learn about the After School Work Program, Culinary Arts, Horticulture, D&B Designs, On and Off-campus Career Experience, Print Shop, 3D Animation/Art Class, Photography/Technology, and MORE!

Off-Campus Guests

The University of North Florida, First Coast Technical College, Vocational Rehabilitation, Huey Magoo’s, Longhorn Steak House, and Ben’s Pretzels!

View CTE Showcase Floor Plan

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

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.

Hilary Norman

FSDB

Hillary Norman is an alumnus of FSDB. Her mother moved to Florida so Hillary could attend FSDB starting in the fifth grade. Ms. Norman was a dual enrolment student, took honors classes at St. Augustine High, participated in both music and sports programs, and graduated in the top percentile of her class.

Ms. Norman graduated from Mary Baldwin College with a Bachelor's Degree in Business, with a double emphasis in Marketing and International Business. Not knowing what career she wanted to pursue, she volunteered for three years at FSDB in the Blind Elementary School to give back to her alma mater. When a part-time position opened to teach students how to use computers and assistive technology, it was a perfect fit. Ms. Norman was one of the first students to receive a 1:1 laptop when she was a student at FSDB. She worked in the Blind Elementary School for three years before being hired as a full-time teacher for the Blind Middle School. Ms. Norman completed her Teaching certification through St. Johns River State College and was honored as the Blind Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2021. She is in her fifth year teaching full-time. Ms. Norman is the founder and director of the FSDB podcast Cobra Chats and is involved in various clubs on the FSDB campus and the community.

Jay Boyle

Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Mr. Boyle is the Bureau Chief of the Rehabilitay Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Daytona Beach, Florida. Before moving to Florida in 2022, Mr. Boyle spent 25 years working with Blind and Visually Impaired people in New Jersey. He was a Mobility Instructor, Supervisor of the Rehab Center and Deputy Director of the agency for the Blind. He was the project manager responsible for developing a Residential Rehabilitation Center in New Brunswick, NJ.

Mr. Boyle lives in Ormond Beach and has three sons and two granddaughters.

https://dbs.fldoe.org/Rehab-Center/

Stevie Fenton

FDOE, Vocational Rehab

Stevie Fenton works with the Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation as a Program Consultant for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Services. She currently works with a team of 16 interpreters and other staff throughout Florida to provide quality rehabilitation services to eligible candidates. Vocational Rehabilitation’s mission is to assist people with disabilities, ages 14 and older, in securing competitive and integrated employment. Anyone, regardless of disability type, may be referred to VR. If a person is eligible, the agency provides guidance and counseling related to employment and disability; full communication access as they train, search for, and secure employment; helps identify career goals and services; and connects candidates to job exploration opportunities and placements. Each year they support over 5,000 Floridians in finding gainful employment leading to better outcomes for families, communities, and the Florida economy.

After graduating from Flagler College and working at FSDB, Stevie has been working in the field of deafness for more than thirty years. During her career, she has been employed in education, counseling, interpreting, and Rehabilitation and has always aimed to improve the people she works with lives.

To learn more about Vocational Rehabilitation and the services they can provide, please visit their website at www.rehabworks.org.

Franklin Stewart

FSDB

Franklin Stewart is the Coordinator of Student Enterprises in the Career Development Department here at FSDB. Franklin oversees the operations, transactions, budgets, and inventory of the Dragon's Lair Cafe, Cobra Corner, D&B Designs, Raymond's Warehouse, D&B Garden Center, and the Concession Stand.

In addition, Franklin is also an alumnus of FSDB.

He attended FSDB from Pre-K to 12th grade, graduating as Salutatorian of the Class of 2015. Franklin was involved with several sports, including Football, Wrestling, and Track & Field, and was a Junior NAD and Student Council member. After graduating from Gallaudet University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Franklin brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to FSDB, having worked in the Registrar's Office at the university. He was responsible for monitoring all transactions and ensuring student tuition bills were paid in a timely manner. In his free time, Franklin enjoys watching sports broadcasted across the many streaming platforms he subscribes to and dabbling with BRXLZ, which is like LEGOS, but on a much smaller scale.

Tara Row

UNF

Dr. Rowe serves as the Associate Director of the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and Director of the THRIVE Program at the University of North Florida (UNF). Dr. Rowe partners with various campus offices, staff, faculty, and community resources to help ensure that SAS students are successful on campus. She has over 15 years of Higher Education experience and received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida in 2018. Dr. Rowe earned her master’s degree in Disability Services and her Bachelor of Education in Special Education from the UNF. In addition, Dr. Rowe recently received her Certification in Counselor Rehabilitation. Her passion for students is evident in the research she participates in and all the student-focused programs she serves as a volunteer. Dr. Rowe grew up in a deaf home and is hard of hearing. She loves being able to communicate and connect with others through ASL.

Chris Force

FCTC

Chris Force is currently the Principal at the First Coast Technical College (FCTC), a role she has held for the past seven years. FCTC is a small, public institution that enrolls over 350 students with certifications in popular industries such as Fire Science and Fire Fighting, Cosmetology, and HVAC and Refrigeration Engineering.

Chris began her career as an educator in the Duval County School District in 1991. While there, Chris started the first Career Academy in Northeast Florida at Wolfson High School. She served seven years as the Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the Duval County Public schools, then moved on to become the Director of CTE for the St. Johns County School District. In addition, she holds four state certifications from the Florida Department of Education and six industry certifications.

Schedule

8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

CTE Showcase – Knowles Hall

8:30 – 9:30 AM: Blind 5th-8th grades
9:30 – 10:30 AM: Deaf 5th-8th grades
10:30 – 11:30 AM: Blind 9th-12th grades and post-grads
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Deaf 9th-12th grades and post-grads

CTE Showcase

See our students in action at the CTE Showcase as they demonstrate their skills and provide interactive opportunities to experience and participate.

More info about booths coming soon.

View CTE Showcase Floor Plan

CTE Showcase

Post High School Pathway Panel Discussion

Panelist Bios

Schedule

CTE Showcase

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