Middle School Fall 2025

 Tutoring is offered on a weekly basis throughout the school year and is also available during the summer months as needed. All Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and CODA students are welcome to participate.

For enrollment or additional information, please contact Karen.

 Karen Brush is the Youth and Family Support Specialist for the Middle School program.  Karen is Deaf and fluent in ASL. She comes from an oral, mainstream educational background in Tacoma, Washington.   Karen holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s degree in Deaf Education. Following her studies, she dedicated 19 years to teaching social studies at the Oregon School for the Deaf, where she supported and inspired countless students. You can contact her via email: Karen@fcdpinellas.org

Learning Is For Everyone

The LIFE program is a mentorship program, where the students are paired up with adult mentors. The mentors meet with the students at least once a month, sometimes more. During the sessions, the students learn how to navigate the world along side their Deaf/hh mentor. The sessions include life skills, social development, and advocacy skills. The goal is for the students to gradually take on more and more responsibilities, until they are ready to become mentors for another group of students.  

 The Middle School Robotics Club at FCD partners with the NTID Regional STEM Center to bring exciting, hands-on robotics opportunities to our students. Club members design, build, and program robots while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

Students compete in robotics competitions against other teams both locally and regionally. The club is open to all middle school students (grades 6–8) and runs from September through February. To keep skills sharp, additional robotics programs are also offered during the summer months.. 

  The Family Center on Deafness Girl Scouts Program is proud to host the only Deaf and Hard of Hearing Girl Scout Troop in the state of Florida. This unique program provides girls with the opportunity to develop leadership skills, build lifelong friendships, and engage in community service projects in an environment that celebrates their language and culture. Through hands-on activities, teamwork, and mentorship, our troop empowers members to grow in confidence while making a positive impact in the community.  

 Battle of the Books is a national reading competition hosted by Gallaudet University. Participants from FCD will read an assigned list of books and showcase their knowledge by answering a variety of questions in different formats. Our students will compete against other Deaf and Hard of Hearing programs across the country. This exciting program not only builds literacy and inspires a love of reading, but also promotes teamwork, academic growth, and sportsmanship. 

 In the Performance Arts Program, FCD students develop their creativity and expression by learning songs in American Sign Language. Students perform these songs at events such as Tampa Bay Rays games, Buccaneers games, Rowdies matches, holiday celebrations, and more. This program highlights the beauty of ASL while building confidence, teamwork, and performance skills.