Middle School Spring 2026

 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 Middle School Team-Building and Recreations program focuses on teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking through interactive play. Students participate in a variety of team-building activities designed to strengthen collaboration, problem-solving, and social skills.

 FCD’s Middle School STEAM programming offers students two unique opportunities to explore creativity, technology, and design. Throughout the week, participants engage in hands-on engineering challenges, using tools such as 3-D printers, Canva, and Cricut to bring their artistic ideas to life. Students also explore art centered on the Deaf experience, learning how visual storytelling can be used to share identity, culture, and personal expression.

 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.