ABOUT us

About the Foundation

The VSDB Foundation was created at the time that the VSDB Staunton and Hampton schools consolidated. It has provided grants to VSDB for summer programing, the VSDB horticulture program and Urban Farm, specialized equipment to advance student’s technology knowledge, and allow students to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The VSDB Foundation is increasing its efforts to enhance and improve the education, extracurricular activities, and campus environment for students.

Board of Directors

Warren McKeen
Warren McKeen
Chair

Warren J. McKeen is a retired nonprofit professional with 27 years of experience in nonprofit management and development.

FULL bIo
John Pleasants
John Pleasants
Vice Chair

John Pleasants is a 1972 graduate of The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind and served several times as president of the Blind Alumni Association.

FULL bIo
Brett Botizan
Brett Botizan
Treasurer

Brett Botizan is a partner at Elmore, Hupp & Company PLC and a 2006 graduate of West Virginia University.

FULL bIo
VSDB Logo
Janice Rankin
Treasurer

Ms. Rankin has served as the Director of Operations for the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind since 2002

FULL bIo
Patricia Fahed Trice
Patricia Fahed Trice
Superintendent

Ms. Trice came to VSDB in 2013 as the principal and has served as the Superintendent of VSDB since 2014.

FULL bIo
Mykell Alleman
Mykell Alleman
Parent Representative

Ms. Alleman joined the Foundation Board as the parent representative in 2023

FULL bIo
Mykell Alleman
J H Cline, Jr.
Board Member

Mr. Cline graduated from The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in 1969, as a part of the Blind Department.

FULL bIo
VSDB Logo
Daphne Cox
Board Member

Ms. Cox graduated from VSDB in 1978, and has been a lifetime member of the Virginia School for the Deaf Alumni Association

FULL bIo
Race Drake, Jr.
Race Drake, Jr.
Board Member

Mr. Drake is a native Arkansan and graduated from Arkansas School for the Deaf in 1959.

FULL bIo
Vera Hailey
Vera Hailey
Board Member

Vera Hailey is an Alternative Dispute Resolution practitioner based in Waynesboro, Virginia.

FULL bIo