WELCOME TO THE CAREER CENTER

JESSIE "JAY" GIRTON, M. Ed- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Jay’s roots are deeply embedded in Northeast Florida, where she nurtured within the local deaf community. Interestingly, one of her closest friends is visually impaired -- showcasing the breadth of her connections. Her academic journey reflects her commitment to inclusivity; armed with degrees in Sign Language Interpreting, Special Education, and honed her expertise with a masters in Deaf Education. She is currently pursuing her second master’s degree in Educational Leadership at the University of North Florida.

Jay’s diverse career trajectory has seen her excel in various educational roles. She has served as an Instructional Assistant, English Teacher for grades 9-12, and most recently the Deaf High School IEP Coordinator. Her unique experience, encompassing both the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing and Blind/Visually Impaired realms, ideally positions her for her new role as the Executive Director of Career Development.

Jay’s overarching goal is to empower all students with the essential skills to thrive independently in society, irrespective of the challenges they encounter. Her journey encapsulate her unwavering dedication to fostering inclusiveness, education, and individual growth.

KINESHA BATTLES - ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Kinesha Battles is the Administrative Assistant for the Career Development Department. Prior to that, Kinesha was an Instructional Assistant for the Deaf department for five years. Kinesha has an Associates degree in General Education from Florida State College of Jacksonville. Kinesha is an alumni of FSDB (Class of 2010). As with most administrative assistants, Kinesha wears many hats in her position ranging from finding coverage for teachers, ordering office supplies, answering phone calls, overlooking the department budget, plus many more. The department wouldn't run smoothly without Kinesha.

FRANKLIN STEWART - COORDINATOR OF STUDENT ENTERPRISES

Franklin Stewart is the Coordinator of Student Enterprises here in the Career Development Department. 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 Stands. He is also an alumni of FSDB (Class of 2015) and Gallaudet University (Class of 2019). Franklin brings a wealth of knowledge back to FSDB by having majored in Business Administration and having worked with their Registrar's Office at Gallaudet where he was responsible for monitoring all transactions and ensuring tuitions were paid. During his down time, Franklin enjoys watching sports on the many streaming platforms and dabbling with BRXLZ, which is similar to LEGOS, but on a much smaller scale. 

SOPHIE GILMORE - VOCATIONAL INSTRUCTOR

Sophie Gilmore is a Vocational Instructor in the Career Development Department. Sophie has worked with exceptional students for six years in several different capacities. She is from Texas, attended Oklahoma Baptist University, then decided to move to Florida after graduation. Sophie's job here at FSDB is to assist students with any resume or interview skills questions. She also oversees the After School Work Program here on campus. Sophie is passionate about helping students meet their vocational goals. She is currently working on a master's degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In her limited free time, Sophie enjoys the beach, reading, hanging out with friends, and thrift shopping.