William A. Caldwell was appointed as the second principal (1890-1893). During his tenure, he initiated training in new trades, including printing, photography, carpentry, sewing, and gardening, which enabled many graduates to become self-supporting. He went on to become president of California School for the Deaf, Berkeley (1896-1933) and received an honorary degree from Gallaudet College in 1924.

Henry Noel Felkel was appointed as the third superintendent (1893-1897); the job title changed from principal to superintendent. A native of Leon County, Florida, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the West Florida Seminary. He began his teaching career in a country school in 1874. Three years later he became superintendent of public instruction of Leon County and served four successive terms. Felkel chaired the English literature and physics department at West Florida Seminary. He became principal of the Tallahassee City public schools, president of the new State Normal School in DeFuniak Springs, and then superintendent of the Florida school.

Reverend Frederick Pasco was appointed as the fourth superintendent (1897-1900) after the death of Henry Felkel. He served for three years then left to take charge of the East Florida Seminary in Gainesville.

William B. Hare was appointed as the fifth superintendent (1900-1906). He was born in Wisconsin. During his tenure, he recommended to the state legislature that the school name be changed to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind to reflect its educational focus and ties to the state public education system.

Dr. Albert Hayne Walker became the sixth president (1906-1927); the job title changed from superintendent to president. He grew up near Spartanburg, SC where his grandfather Reverend Newton P. Walker, founded the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind and his father Newton F. Walker was superintendent 1872-1927. Walker taught at the Tennessee and Texas schools for the deaf before accepting a job as a head teacher at the Florida school in 1902. He later moved up to the presidency, a position he held for more than 21 years; he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Florida.

W. Laurens Walker, Jr. was appointed as the seventh president (interim, 1927-1928) after the death of his uncle, A. H. Walker. The new head of the school followed in the educational career footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and three uncles. It was said that “the Walkers are one of the best-known families in the country to have engaged in this profession over a number of southern states.”

Alfred L. Brown was appointed as the eighth president (1928-1932). Brown graduated from Hendrix Academy in Conway, AR and then Westminster College in Fulton, MO, where he learned to communicate with deaf students at the Missouri School for the Deaf. After earning a master’s degree from Gallaudet College, he began working at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind as a teacher, head teacher, and then vice principal. He held the last position for six years before accepting the job at FSDB. In 1932, Brown left to become superintendent of the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

Dr. Clarence J. Settles was appointed as the ninth president (1932-1952). The school flourished and during his tenure, and the number of students increased from around 300 to 500. Sign language was not permitted in classrooms; students used speech and finger spelling. Prior to coming to FSDB, Settles taught at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and served as head of both the Arizona and Idaho schools for the deaf and blind. Settles had a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, MO, a master’s from Gallaudet College, and a doctorate from Webster College in Atlanta, GA.

John M. Wallace became the 10th president (1952-1966). An Arkansas native, he graduated from the University of Arkansas. He then went to the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs for a year of training with the deaf, after which he taught for two years. He accepted a job at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, later becoming principal (1942-1945). Prior to coming to FSDB, Wallace was head of the Arkansas School for the Deaf in Little Rock, which included the School for the Negro Deaf and Blind (1945-1952).

Paul C. Bird was appointed as the 11th president (interim, 1966-1967). Bird was born in Waterford, PA, went to Penn State for a bachelor’s degree and began his career as a teacher of deaf students at FSDB in 1947. In 1952, he earned a master’s from Gallaudet College. He served as principal of the West Virginia School for the Deaf 1952-1956. In 1956, he returned to Florida as an audiologist and later was promoted to principal of the school.

Dr. William J. McClure was appointed as the 12th president (1967-1982). After earning a master’s degree at Gallaudet, he taught for a year there and later became dean of students and principal at Kendall School on the Gallaudet campus. He worked as assistant superintendent at both the Tennessee (1950-1956) and the Indiana schools for the deaf (1957-1967) before coming to FSDB. McClure retired in 1982 after 16 years as president. He received honorary doctorate degrees from Flagler College, Gallaudet University, and Westminster College in Missouri.

Dr. Tuck Tinsley III became the 13th president (interim, 1982). Tinsley had been principal of the Blind Department for 21 years when the Board of Trustees appointed him to the dual role of principal-interim president, following a failure to break a tie vote in the selection of a successor to Dr. McClure. Tinsley served in this role from February 1 to July 1. Tinsley was born in Jenkins, KY and moved to Tampa, FL as a child. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and a doctorate from the University of Florida. Since 1989, he has been president of the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, KY. 

Robert T. Dawson became the 14th president (1982-1997). The appointment meant returning to FSDB, where he had been the principal of the Deaf Department from 1970-1974. Previously, Dawson served as superintendent of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, as assistant superintendent for instruction at the Indiana School for the Deaf, and as principal of the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind. He also taught at the Oregon School for the Deaf. Dawson earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Portland and a master’s in education of the deaf from Gallaudet College.

Elmer L. Dillingham, Jr. was appointed as the 15th president (1997-2008). He first worked at FSDB as principal and later became president. Previously he worked as superintendent of the North Carolina Schools for the Deaf in both Wilson and Morganton. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Berry College in Rome, GA, and a master’s in educational administration from California State University, Northridge. Dillingham advocated campus growth and directed an educational initiative in compliance with a federal mandate that offered a curriculum-based Independent Living Program.

Luther Daniel Hutto was appointed as the 16th president (2008-2012) after serving in an interim role in 2007. Hutto began working at FSDB in 1968 as a teacher, then left in 1973 to accept a job at the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf as preschool director and then assistant superintendent. He returned to FSDB in 1983 as assistant principal for academics and successively became director of student life, administrator for residential programs, and president. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Mars Hill College, NC, and a master’s in education of the deaf from Appalachian State University, NC. The Early Learning Center is named in his honor.

Dr. Jeanne Glidden Prickett was appointed as the 17th president (2012-2020), the first female president in the 130-year history of the school. For 40 years, she has worked in a wide range of programs as a teacher, professor, administrator, and consultant in the fields of education of students who are blind, deaf, and deafblind. She served on federal projects in vision impairment and deafblindness through the U.S. Department of Education. At Gallaudet University, she headed the National Information Center on Deaf-Blindness. Prior to arrival at FSDB, she served as administrator of the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind and as superintendent of the Iowa School for the Deaf. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education of the blind, a master’s in education of the deaf from Illinois State University, where she also earned a doctorate in educational administration. Prickett is fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language, and reads and writes braille.

Tracie C. Snow was appointed as the 18th president (2020-Present). Snow began her career at FSDB as a Deaf High School special needs teacher. She then transitioned to the Deaf Elementary School, teaching second grade and later became the Deaf Elementary reading specialist. Her next role was as director of Curriculum and Staff Development within Instructional Services. Before her role as president, Snow served as administrator of Instructional Services, providing campus-wide leadership in the implementation, monitoring and compliance for general education, specially designed instruction and assessments for preschool through grade 12 students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired and deafblind. Snow also oversaw the professional development initiatives and certification requirements for academic personnel and serves as the school's Exceptional Student Education (ESE) director. Snow earned a bachelor's degree in Social and Rehabilitation Services and Elementary Education from Assumption College in Worcester, MA (1993) and a master's degree in Education from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC (1995), followed by a second master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida (2007). She holds several Florida state certifications, including Educational Leadership. Tracie and her husband, David Snow, have two children, Setthawut and Ty, both FSDB alumni.