Celebrating the One Who Sees the Victory in Every Step. 🎉

We couldn’t let Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Week come to an end without celebrating Mrs. Ashley Suddath! 🌟

She celebrates the moments others might miss. The new skill that took weeks of practice, the confidence to try something independently, or that moment when everything finally clicks. Those victories matter, and Mrs. Ashley makes sure our students know it. 🤟

That kind of dedication makes the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB) such a special place: a community that believes in our students, meets them where they are, and helps them discover how much they can accomplish.

Thank you, Mrs. Ashley, for being one of our students’ biggest cheerleaders and for the care and dedication you bring to WVSDB each day. 💙

#SLPWeek #WVSDB #StudentSuccess
1 day ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Professional portrait of a smiling woman with long dark brown hair, wearing a red quilted vest over a multicolored striped shirt, posed against a soft blue background.
Preserving Our Story. Celebrating Our Future. 🎉

We officially cut the ribbon and dedicated the Administration Building Memorial, creating a special place to honor our past while looking ahead to an exciting future. 🌟

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported this project from the beginning, and to the many special guests, alums, friends, and community members who joined us today. Your support made this celebration even more meaningful.

✨ And now, it’s your turn to experience it!

The Administration Building Memorial is officially open to the public, and we invite you to visit, explore, and celebrate more than 150 years of WVSDB history. 🏛️

Here’s to our history and the next chapter of WVSDB! 🐻

📸: Appalachian Drone Photography, owned and operated by Cole Roomsburg

#HonoringOurHistory #WVSDB #RomneyWV
3 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
WVSDB student and school representative hold oversized ceremonial scissors at the blue ribbon during the Administration Building Memorial dedication.
Top-down aerial view of the Administration Building Memorial and guests gathered for the ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony.
WVSDB student speaks at the podium while an interpreter signs beside them, with the memorial and American flags in the background.
Aerial view looking toward the crowd from behind the Administration Building Memorial, with three American flags hanging between its columns.
Interpreter provides sign language access beside the podium during the WVSDB Administration Building Memorial dedication ceremony.
WVSDB student holds ceremonial scissors at a blue ribbon during the Administration Building Memorial ribbon-cutting ceremony, surrounded by staff.
Aerial view from behind the Administration Building Memorial showing the ceremony, surrounding campus grounds, and parking area.
WVSDB student musicians perform on keyboards, drums, guitar, and bass in front of the Administration Building Memorial, decorated with large American flags.
Aerial view of the Administration Building Memorial dedication, showing guests seated in front of the memorial beneath three large American flags.
Four special guests stand together for a photo in front of the Administration Building Memorial and American flags.
Celebrating Those Who Champion Communication. 🎉

During National Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Week, we are proud to celebrate one of the special people who makes a difference in our students' lives each day: Mrs. Kelsey Heavener! 🌟

Communication is such an important part of how we learn, connect, express ourselves, and experience the world around us. She works alongside our students to strengthen those skills while encouraging them to believe in themselves every step of the way.

Mrs. Kelsey, thank you for being that person for so many of our students. Thank you for listening, encouraging, celebrating, and helping each student build confidence in their unique way of communicating. 🤟

#NationalSLPWeek #WVSDB #CommunicationMatters
4 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Professional portrait of a smiling woman with shoulder-length wavy brown hair, wearing a mustard yellow cardigan over a black-and-white striped shirt, posed against a soft blue background.
As of August 25, 2026, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies for the 2026-2027 school year:

Substitute Licensed Practical Nurse

Internal Only
EDC - Esports - Asst. Coach

To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
5 days ago, Jonathan Nickleson
teacher signing with student with bear logo and we are hiring apply now banner
As of August 25, 2026, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies for the 2026-2027 school year:

Substitute Licensed Practical Nurse


To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
5 days ago, Jonathan Nickleson
student reading braille with bear logo and join our team banner
Snapshot from the Sidelines. 📸

A little glimpse from the first scrimmage of the season! 🏈

One student. Two schools cheering him on. One exciting season ahead. 🔥

#FootballSeason #WVSDB #WVSchools
6 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A football player wearing a green number 76 jersey and helmet stands on the sideline watching the action on the field during a scrimmage. Other players, coaches, and spectators are visible across the field on a sunny evening.
7 Days Until a New Chapter Begins! 🎉

Join us as we celebrate the Administration Building Ribbon-Cutting & Memorial Dedication, a day to honor our history, celebrate this important milestone, and look ahead to the future of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB). 🐻

📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026
⏰ 10 AM–12 PM
📍 WVSDB | Romney, WV

Come experience this special moment with us, tour the campus, visit with the WVSDB community, and help us mark another chapter in our story.

We can’t wait to welcome you to campus! 🤩

#MemorialDedication #WVSDB #DiscoverWVSDB
10 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Wide view of the completed WVSDB Administration Building memorial, featuring the white columned structure, brick walls, flagpoles, and a large red walkway leading toward the memorial beneath a blue, partly cloudy sky.
Close view of the WVSDB Administration Building memorial, featuring four white columns and a peaked structure overlooking the memorial plaza, flagpoles, and campus beneath a bright blue sky.
Front view of the WVSDB Administration Building memorial, featuring four white columns and a peaked structure with the town of Romney and mountains visible in the background beneath a partly cloudy sky.
Looking Back at the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit! 🏔️

This summer, educational interpreters, sign support professionals, and future interpreters gathered in Charleston for the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit! 🌟

Hosted by the WVSDB Public School Partnership Program’s American Sign Language (ASL) Communication Coordinator, the two-day Summit focused on professional growth, collaboration, and connection while strengthening support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students across West Virginia.

Thank you to our presenters, participants, and everyone who made this year's Summit possible! 💙

Together, we continue to learn, connect, and climb to the summit for the students we serve. 🤟
11 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Close-up of a printed card reading “WVSDB Educational Interpreter Summit” displayed at the event.
A presenter uses sign language while leading a session at the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit.
A presenter speaks into a microphone while addressing attendees during the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit.
An interpreter uses sign language during a session at the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit.
Attendees and presenters gather for a group photo at the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit in Charleston.
An interpreter signs at the front of the conference room during a presentation at the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit.
A presenter leads a session at the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit as attendees watch from tables throughout the conference room.
Interpreter Summit participants smile, converse, and participate in a small-group learning activity around a table.
Four participants engage in an interactive small-group activity during the 2026 WVSDB Interpreter Summit, with several participants using sign language.
Four Interpreter Summit participants sit together around a table during a small-group discussion and activity.
Friday Night Lights Look a Little Extra Special this Year! 🏈

That’s our very own #76, suited up and ready to go with the Hampshire High School football team! ⚔️

We LOVE seeing our students pursue their interests, try new things, and represent WVSDB wherever they go.

Even better? He had some familiar faces in the crowd! Members of our WVSDB staff came out to cheer him on and make sure #76 felt the support of his WVSDB family. 🙌

For us, inclusion means students have access to opportunities, feel part of their communities, and get the chance to discover how much they can do. 🤟

So, if you’re at a Hampshire game this season…Look for #76. 👀

#FridayNightLights #WVSDB #HampshireHighSchool
12 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
WVSDB student #76 stands on the football field wearing his green Hampshire High School football uniform and holding his helmet after coming off the field.
Staff members sit together in the bleachers at a Hampshire High School football event, smiling at the camera and signing “78.” Both wear green Hampshire athletics apparel.
WVSDB student #76 stands on the football field in his green Hampshire High School uniform while talking with a staff member. Other players and spectators are visible in the background.
Hampshire High School football players and coaches gather along the field. WVSDB student #76 stands with the team in a green football jersey and helmet.
Hampshire High School football players gather on the field during a practice or scrimmage. WVSDB student #76 stands among his teammates wearing a green jersey and football helmet.
As of August 18, 2026, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies for the 2026-2027 school year:

Registered Nurse – Itinerant (220 days) - Evening
General Maintenance/Electrician II - 260 days
LPN - 210 days - Night Shift
Substitute Licensed Practical Nurse
CTE Teacher - PCR and CWST
Substitute Aide II, III, IV Supv/Transportation
Substitute General Maintenance/Security
Substitute General Maintenance/Groundsman
Health Services Lead nurse (School Nurse) - 261 days



To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
12 days ago, Jonathan Nickleson
Teacher assisting student with board saw with we are hiring banner and bear logo
Honoring Our Past. Inspiring Our Future. 🌟

We're bringing our community together to officially dedicate the Administration Building Memorial and celebrate the generations of people, stories, and memories that will forever be part of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB). 🏫

📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026
⏰ 10 AM–12 PM
📍 WVSDB | Romney, WV

Together, students, alums, staff, families, community members, and friends will gather to officially dedicate the Administration Building Memorial and celebrate the generations of people and memories that made this historic building so special. 💙

This isn't just a ribbon-cutting; it's a celebration of where we've been, who we are, and the legacy we're carrying forward. 🎗️

#WVSDBLegacy #WVSDB #RomneyWV
12 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Formal invitation for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Memorial Dedication and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony honoring the Administration Building. The event will be held Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at 301 East Main Street, Romney, WV 26757. The cream-colored invitation features the WVSDB seal at the top with decorative navy and gold lettering and an ornate gold border.
Things Are Getting STORMY in the Classroom! 🌪️

It’s hurricane season, and our students are exploring the science behind these powerful storms! 🌊

Students learned about the conditions hurricanes need to form and investigated how strong winds can affect buildings and structures. They also conducted a hands-on experiment with hot and cold water, observing how warmer water stays near the surface while colder water sinks before eventually mixing. 🧪

There’s no better way to understand the storm than to put the science to the test! 💨

#WeatherScience #WVSDB #LearningThroughDiscovery
13 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
A teacher demonstrates a water temperature experiment using a small aquarium while two students watch closely. Colored water in the tank helps illustrate how warm and cold water move and interact.
A smiling student uses a handheld blower to test how a student-built model structure responds to strong winds while classmates and staff watch.
Students and staff gather around a table as a student uses a handheld blower to test a colorful model structure against strong winds during a hands-on hurricane science lesson.
A student leans in for a closer look at a small aquarium as an adult adds colored water during a hands-on hurricane science experiment.
A student observes a small aquarium containing blue-colored water during a classroom experiment exploring how warm and cold water behave.
Two students smile and react as one uses a handheld blower to test the effects of strong winds on colorful model structures during a hurricane science activity.
First Week Highlights! 🍎

Our teachers hit the ground running with engaging lessons and hands-on learning, while our Residential Life team welcomed students back with activities, support, and a home away from home. Whether learning in the classroom, reconnecting with friends, or making memories after the school day ends, our students are already off to an incredible start. 🤩

Swipe through to see some of our favorite snapshots from an unforgettable first week. We can't wait to share all that's ahead this school year! 📚

Here's to an amazing 2026–2027 school year! 💙

#FirstWeekOfSchool #WVSDB #ExperienceWVSDB
16 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Four students stand outside on a campus walkway holding hands and smiling near the residence hall on a cloudy day, enjoying time together between activities.
Student smiles while posing in a pink Hello Kitty outfit against a blue, gold, and white hallway wall on campus.
Two students enjoy lunch together at a table in the campus dining hall while other students and staff eat and socialize in the background.
Student laughs as water is poured over their head from a bright yellow bucket during an outdoor Residential Life activity.
Student stands proudly in the culinary classroom beside a baking tray filled with uncooked WVU-themed cookies, ready for the oven.
Student uses a slant board and large tactile learning materials while an intervenor observes and provides individualized instruction in a classroom.
Teacher works one-on-one with a young student using a digital display at a classroom table, guiding the student's hands during a literacy activity.
Music teacher leads a small group of students in choir rehearsal inside a large multipurpose room. Students stand in a semicircle singing while the teacher conducts beside a piano and laptop.
The School Year Is Just Getting Started... Make It One to Remember! 🎉

🚨Parents and guardians, there's still time to get your student involved!

Athletics, STEM clubs, and Scouting sign-ups are open through Friday, August 14, 2026, for day and residential students in grades 6–12.

Whether they're stepping onto the field, building a robot, launching a rocket, flying a drone, or making new friends through Scouting, there's a place for every Black Bear to belong. 🐻

🏅 Athletics
🤖 Robotics • Rocketry • Drones
🌲 Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts

These experiences help students build confidence, teamwork, leadership, and lifelong memories.

➡️Don't miss the deadline; sign up by Friday, August 14, 2026!

#SchoolCommunity #WVSDB #BlackBearAthletics
18 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
WVSDB Black Bears soccer player Raiden Haywood, wearing jersey number 43, poses while looking up at a soccer ball above. The graphic includes the player's name repeated in the background with bold blue and gold team colors.
As of August 4, 2026, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies for the 2026-2027 school year:

Registered Nurse – Itinerant (220 days) - Evening
General Maintenance/Electrician II - 260 days
LPN - 210 days - Night Shift
Substitute Registered Nurse
Substitute Licensed Practical Nurse
General Maintenance/HVAC Tech - 260 days
CTE Teacher - PCR and CWST
Substitute Aide II, III, IV Supv/Transportation
Substitute General Maintenance/Security
Substitute General Maintenance/Groundsman




Internal Only
EDC - Soccer - Head Coach
EDC - Soccer -Assistant Head Coach


To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
19 days ago, Jonathan Nickleson
Occuptational Therapist working with student with We are Hiring banner and bear logo
Reminder: Black Bear Athletics & Clubs Information Meeting

WVSDB encourages all students interested in athletics or extracurricular activities, along with their parents and guardians, to attend the Black Bear Athletics & Clubs Information Meeting on Tuesday, August 11, from 4:30–5:30 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). A virtual attendance option will also be available.

The Athletic Director, coaches, and club advisors will share important information regarding participation expectations, eligibility requirements, and opportunities available throughout the 2026–2027 school year. Families will also receive an overview of the revised Athletic Handbook and learn about partial enrollment opportunities for eligible public-school students.

Information will be shared about WVSDB's athletic programs, including coed soccer, esports, goalball, girls' basketball, track & field, swimming, girls' flag football, and boys' volleyball, as well as robotics, rocketry, drones, and scouting.

We encourage all interested families to attend as we prepare for another successful year of Black Bear athletics and student engagement.

Thank you!
20 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
As of August 7, 2026, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies for the 2026-2027 school year:

Registered Nurse – Itinerant (220 days) - Evening
General Maintenance/Electrician II - 260 days
LPN - 210 days - Night Shift
Substitute Registered Nurse
Substitute Licensed Practical Nurse
General Maintenance/HVAC Tech - 260 days
Career and Technical Education Instructor – Personalized Career Readiness and Career and Work Skills Training (BM0510)




To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
22 days ago, Jonathan Nickleson
Student working in the kitchen with bear logo and we are hiring banner
These Views Never Get Old. 🌿

The beauty of WVSDB goes far beyond the scenery; it's found in the people, the purpose, and the moments that unfold here each day. ✨

Tomorrow, we welcome back the educators, staff, and leaders whose passion fills these spaces with purpose every single day. 📚

Our campus is ready to come alive.

Here's to an incredible year ahead. 💛

#BackToSchool #WVSDB #WelcomeBack
26 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Large leafy tree in the foreground frames a Seaton Hall across an expansive grassy lawn under bright blue skies.
Wide view of the WVSDB campus on a sunny summer day, featuring a large green lawn, mature shade trees, the PE building, and forested mountains beneath a clear blue sky.
Concrete sidewalk leading through a green campus lawn toward the Sevigny building, bordered by trees on a bright summer day.
Open view of the WVSDB campus with a wide grassy field, greenhouse, gazebo, trees, and the Brannon building set against a clear blue summer sky.
As of August 4, 2026, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are accepting applications for the following vacancies for the 2026-2027 school year:

Registered Nurse – Itinerant (220 days) - Evening
General Maintenance/Electrician II - 260 days
LPN - 210 days - Night Shift
Substitute Registered Nurse
Substitute Licensed Practical Nurse
General Maintenance/HVAC Tech - 260 days



Internal Only
Program Assistant - Finance - 260 days (At Will)


To apply, please visit - https://www.applitrack.com/wvde/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=47369
26 days ago, Jonathan Nickleson
student reading braille with bear logo and we are hiring banner
This Isn't a Typo... We're Open Saturday! 👀

To celebrate the Summer Harvest Festival, Appalachia Provisions Café is opening for a special one-day event, and we hope you'll join us. 🌻

Menu: ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Coffee (16 oz) — $3
Iced Coffee (20 oz) — $4
Assorted Tea — $2
Iced Peach Tea — $3
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissant — $5
Raspberry Peach Bread Pudding — $5
Hard-Boiled Eggs — $2
Peach Strudel Focaccia — $5
Peach BBQ Pulled Pork on Ciabatta — $7
Chocolate Chip Cookies — $3
Assorted Drinks — $3

📍 301 East Main Street
🗓️Saturday, August 1 | 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM

➡️This will be your last chance to dine at Appalachia Provisions Café before we close for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. We can't wait to welcome everyone back when school resumes, but we'd love to see you one more time before then!

This is your last bite of summer at Appalachia Provisions Café. Make it count. ☕

#RomneyWV #WVSDB #EatLocal
30 days ago, Alyssa Hansrote
Students in the Appalachia Provisions culinary program display freshly prepared grab-and-go meals at the student-operated café, where branded merchandise and a coffee service are featured behind the counter.