Dan Hutto retires as president of FSDB

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind announced to Historic City News local reporters that the school’s 16th president, L. Daniel Hutto, would officially retire this week — his board meeting April 27 will be his last official event.

Communications Director Miki Kristina Gilloon reported that Hutto served 34 years of his 40 years in education at the local campus of the state school.

“The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind has been a vital part of my life since I began teaching here in 1968,” Hutto said.

He started his career at the school when he was hired as a math teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing.

In 1973, he accepted a series of positions at the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf and, after 10 years, relocated back to Florida; returning to FSDB to serve as an Assistant Principal for Academics, Director of Student Life, Residential Administrator, Interim President and President.

“I have seen many changes in the school through the years,” Hutto added. “But what hasn’t changed is the dedicated staff, who give tirelessly of themselves to meet the individual needs of the students.”

As president, Hutto supported innovative policies for the school’s continuing accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Conference of Education Administrators Serving the Deaf, and the National Council of Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Recognizing the importance of athletic, extracurricular activities and recreational program experiences, Hutto significantly enhanced residential programs for the students. He provided leadership during the FSDB student performance at the 2005 Super Bowl.

“It is difficult to leave a place that has been a major part of my life for so many years,” Hutto said. “Mary Ann and I will cherish the memories of our experiences at the school. I want to thank all who made this journey possible and who shared your lives with us.”

If you plan to attend the board meeting, it will begin at 9:00 a.m., April 27, in the Moore Hall Center for Learning Development Conference Room #126. Dr. Jeanne Prickett, who served as the superintendent for the Iowa School for the Deaf, succeeds Hutto as president.