>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP WITH THE KICKOFF OF SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL FANS DESCEND ON OUR AREA.

BUT FOR ONE FAME, THE LEE COUNTY BALLPARK STRIKE 3 HAS BEEN CALLED.

>> AND NOW DEMOLITION IS ON THE HORIZON.

SCHOOLS ARE BRINGING AN INTERNATIONAL FLAIR TO THEIR HIRING PROCESS IN ORDER TO FILL TEACHER SHORTAGES AND GROCERY STORES THROWING OUT FOOD THAT COULD GO TO FEED THE HUNGRY.

HOW ONE LOCAL NONPROFIT IS HELPING TO MAKE SURE NOTHING GOES TO WASTE.

HELLO, I AM JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THOUSANDS OF BASEBALL FANS ARE HEADING SOUTH TO CHECK OUT THE DIAMONDS.

TOP STARS, 6 MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS HOLD SPRING TRAINING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A TRADITION DATING BACK 101 YEARS.

BUT THE CLOCK HAS RUN OUT FOR ONE BELOVED LEE COUNTY BALLPARK.

THE CITY OF PALMS IN FORT MYERS AS WGCUUS MIKE WALCHER REPORTS THE FORMER SPRING TRAINING HOME FOR THE BOSTON RED SOX FACES AN EVENTUAL DEMOLITION.

>> THE STADIUM DOESN'T GLEAM IN THE SUNLIGHT AS IT ONCE DID.

AIR PLANTS GROW FROM CRACKS IN THE EXTERIOR YEARS OF LITTLE USE, MINIMAL MAINTENANCE HAVE MADE IT A RELIC BROWNING.

IT'S ONCE PAMPER GRASS, BUT THERE WAS A TIME THE CITY OF FORT MYERS NEEDED A NEW BALLPARK TO ATTRACT A SPRING TRAINING TEAM AFTER KANSAS CITY LEFT CARY PARK.

GLENN MILLER IS A FORMER NEWS PRESS SPORTS WRITER.

THAT WIND WILL KEEP HER 91 TULLY.

BUT NOW WE HAVE SPORTS COMPLEX.

THE ROYALS LAST YEAR WAS 87 HERE.

>> SO 88 89 90, WE HAD NO TEAM LEE COUNTY FOR SPRING TRAINING.

>> 4 YEARS LATER, WE GOT.

>> THIS REALLY SEEN HOME VIDEO COURTESY OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY SHOWS CONSTRUCTION OF CITY OF PALMS PARK WITH FORMER MAYOR WILBUR SMITH LEADING THE CAUSE.

FORT MYERS MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BOSTON RED SOX TO MOVE TO THE STADIUM.

THE CITY ISSUED 24.7 MILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS TO BUILD THE PARK.

TODAY'S CAUSE PROBABLY WOULD BE 10 TIMES THAT IF NOT MORE FOR THE OPENING DAY WAS MARCH 5TH, 1993 FANS RECALL THE FEELING THAT CITY OF PALM BEACH TO GO ALL THE WAY TODAY AND CERTAINLY SHOWING.

>> THEY EVEN ENJOY DOING THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S SPRING TRAINING.

>> IT WAS SMALL.

IT WAS FRIENDLY.

WAS COZY.

YOU MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE AT THE BALLPARK AND IT JUST THE ATMOSPHERE IS JUST PERFECT.

>> DURING THEIR TIME TRAINING OF PALMS PARK, THE RED SOX FINALLY OVERCAME THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO BABE RUTH.

THIS TEAM WON THE WORLD SERIES IN 2004 BOSTON'S FIRST TITLE IN A LONG 86 YEARS.

SPRING TRAINING GAMES HERE OFTEN WERE DRAMATIC.

AND THE STAR PLAYERS, SOME OF THE BEST.

>> AND WHAT DOES IT?

>> BIG, POPPY, DAVID ORTIZ PLACE THE HOME RUN OFF THE TOP OF THE BATTERS EYE, HUGO STANDARD HOME PLATE AT A BALLPARK.

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEBODY COULD DO THAT.

BUT DAVID ORTIZ DEAD NOMAR GARCIAPARRA, GREAT SHORTSTOP, PEDRO MARTINEZ.

>> THE RED SOX NATION INCLUDED STEPHEN KING, THE FAMOUS HORROR FICTION.

AUTHOR KING WAS A REGULAR AT CITY OF PALMS, OFTEN WATCHING FROM THE PRESS BOX.

VERY PLEASANT FELLOW.

A VERY AMIABLE KNOW.

>> AND TO FAMOUS AND JUST CHAT WITH YOU ABOUT HOW THE RED SOX LUCK OR WHATEVER.

>> IN TIME, THOUGH, THE RED SOX GREW FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT THE PRACTICE FIELDS AND MINOR LEAGUE COMPLEX.

WE'RE 2 MILES AWAY FROM THE STADIUM.

SO THE RED SOX MOVED TO JETBLUE PARK OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

THAT WAS 14 SPRING TRAININGS AGO.

JETBLUE HAS THOUSANDS MORE SEATS THAN THE OLD PLACE AND THE PRACTICE FIELDS ARE RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY FOR CITY OF PALMS.

FORT MYERS TRIED TO ATTRACT OTHER TEAMS.

OTHER USES.

THOSE EFFORTS FAILED TOO SMALL, A SPACE.

THE TEAM SAID TOO MUCH COST TO REMODEL AND PICKS UP THE STADIUM.

SOME FANS STILL MISS THAT CITY OF PALMS EXPERIENCE.

>> I JUST LIKE THE THE FEELING.

THE WHOLE BODY IN US OF THE OF THE OLD BALLPARK.

EVERYTHING SEEMED A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

EVERYBODY KIND OF KNEW EVERYBODY PEOPLE HAD WORKED THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

I LIKE THAT.

YOU COULD PARK IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD AND GIVING $5 TO PARK DECADES AGO.

FRANK SINATRA SAYING ABOUT A PARK THAT LIKE CITY OF PALMS.

>> WAS ABANDONED AND THE THERE USED TO BE.

>> SOMETIMES WE FEEL ABOUT THINGS LIKE STADIUMS AS WE WOULD ABOUT PEOPLE.

SO WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS WHOLE PARK?

>> IT'S A MELANCHOLY MOMENT.

>> THIS WAS A MAGICAL PLACE WITH THAT.

IT WAS AN OLD-FASHIONED BALLPARK WITH A MONITORED SETTING.

>> IT WAS IT'S SAD TO SEE WITH PHOTOGRAPHER JOE LYSHON FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M MIKE WALCHER.

YES, THE USED TO BE.

>> ACTION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE'RE JOINED BY GEOFF MILKY HAZY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LEE COUNTY SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

AND YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS IN LEE COUNTY.

>> I HAVE I HAVE.

IT'S BEEN A PHENOMENAL 20 YEARS FOR ME AND TO SEE THE GROWTH OF OUR SPORTS PRODUCT IN OUR DESTINATION WITH ALL THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE BUILT AND AND REALLY ELEVATING THE BRAND OF OF LEE COUNTY AND SPORT AND FORT MYERS TO THE WORLD AS IT'S BEEN FUN.

>> AND IT IS WORKING NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION FANS CAME DOWN TO OUR AREA FOR BOTH THE RED SOX AND THE TWINS IN LEE COUNTY.

DO YOU EXPECT A SIMILAR TURNOUT OR EVEN BETTER THIS YEAR?

I DO.

I HOPE THAT IT'S A IT'S A BETTER TURNOUT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT BASEBALL IN DID REALLY WELL WITH THE WORLD SERIES WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BEING REPRESENTED.

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SPRING TRAINING HAS TO DO WITH THE WEATHER IN MINNESOTA AND BOSTON.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND UP IN NEW ENGLAND AREA WITH THE NOR'EASTER.

SO I THINK THE THE HARDER THE WEATHER'S ARE UP NORTH, THE BUSIER OUR SPRING TRAINING GETS BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A GETAWAY.

THEY JUST MAY.

THEY MAY NOT BE DIEHARD BASEBALL FANS, BUT THEY JUST HAVE THEY'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE COLD.

AND THIS IS A GREAT EXCUSE TO BE THAT 100%.

AND IN ADDITION TO THE WONDERFUL WEATHER THAT WE HAVE.

>> WHAT ELSE YOU THINK IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE RISE IN ATTENDANCE AT BASEBALL GAMES.

THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST RISING IN POPULARITY.

YEAH, I THINK OUR DESTINATION ONE HAS GOT HURT.

>> 2 GREAT TEAMS.

THEIR FERRY, PASSIONATE FAN BASE IS CERTAINLY THE RED SOX COMING OUT OF THE BOSTON AREA AND THE MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN HISTORICALLY THE TOP 2 OF THE TOP 4 TEAMS IN ALL OF GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

SO I THINK WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH WITH TEAMS THAT PLAY AND THE NORTH AND HAVE MUCH COLDER CLIMATE SYSTEM YEAR.

AND THEN I THINK THERE'S NO SECRET THAT BASEBALL IS IS IS RISING IN POPULARITY.

I COMMISSIONER MANFRED HAS PUT SOME RULES IN PLAY THAT MAKE THE GAME A LITTLE FUN TO WATCH WITH THE PITCH CLOCKS THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE GOING TO THE AUTOMATIC STRIKE ZONE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S BRINGING IN YOUNGER FANS TO THE GAME, WHICH THERE WAS ALWAYS A CONCERN ABOUT, HEY, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE FANBASE OF THE YOUNGER LEVEL AND BY MAKING THE GAME FASTER AND MORE EXCITING TO WATCH.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

AND DON'T FORGET GREAT CONCESSIONS.

THOSE ARE SO SO IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

YEAH.

SO YOU GO TO THE BALLPARKS AND AND THE WAY IT IS NOW IS USED TO SIT IN YOUR SEAT FOR 7 OR 8 INNINGS.

THAT WAS THE STUDY DONE.

AND NOW PEOPLE ROAM THE BALLPARKS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SIT IN THEIR SEATS ALL 7 OR 8 INNING.

SO BOTH TEAMS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING THESE LITTLE HIDDEN GEMS OF MAYBE A PRODUCT THAT YOU CAN ONLY GET MINNESOTA OVER IN THIS CORNER OF THE BALLPARK OR OR FENWAY.

FRANK OVER HERE THAT YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND GO FIND IT.

AND SO IT ENCOURAGES ROAMING AROUND EXPLORING THE BALLPARKS.

AND I THINK THAT'S FUN.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK OF A HIGH PROBABILITY OF A STRIKE LOOMING ARE WHAT ARE ANY CONTINGENCY PLANS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR LEE COUNTY IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO PUT CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND SEE WHAT'S GOING TO UNFOLD.

RIGHT?

SO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS IS PROBABLY GOING TO START TAKING PLACE IN DECEMBER.

AND SO FROM DECEMBER TO MARCH, WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH PROGRESS THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE.

AND SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW DURING SPRING TRAINING IN LEE COUNTY.

WE JUST HAD UNIVERSITY, MISSOURI DIVISION, ONE BASEBALL PROGRAM WAS HERE PLAYING A SERIES OF GAMES ON 2 DIFFERENT WEEKENDS.

WE CAN LEAN HARDER INTO OUR COLLEGE BASEBALL PRODUCT.

OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT RUNS A COLLEGE SPRING BREAK TOURNAMENT CALLED THE GENE CUSA CLASSIC AND WE CAN MOVE THAT FROM SOME OF OUR OLDER FACILITIES INTO THESE NEWER.

THEN USE IF THERE'S NO SPRING TRAINING AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE KINGDOM.

NETHERLANDS RIGHT NOW IS IN LEE COUNTY AND THEY ARE PRACTICING WITH THEIR NATIONAL TEAM TO GET READY.

WARMING UP FOR THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC.

SO WE ARE REALLY LEANING INTO INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL WITH THE LA OLYMPIC GAMES.

SUMMER GAMES IN 2028, WE HAVE REALLY PROMOTED THAT LEE COUNTY'S A GREAT PLACE FOR INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL TEAMS TO COME TRAINING.

THE NETHERLANDS IS OUR FIRST EXAMPLE OF THAT.

WELL, WE DO WANT TO KNOW IS THERE A POSSIBILITY BRINGING A 3RD >> TEAM TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASKED THAT A LOT.

WE TRIED TO JUST TO SHOP CITY OF PALMS PARK.

YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME AGO AND IN THAT FACILITY BEING THE STADIUM SEPARATE FROM THE SPRING TRAINING VENUE IN THE MINOR LEAGUE COMPLEX WAS JUST A REALLY, REALLY ALMOST AN AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN CAN GET TO THE TOP OF HIM.

SO WITH THE WAY ALL THE CONTRACTS ARE IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

THAT MAY ALL THE CONTRACTS ARE CURRENTLY.

I DON'T SEE ANYBODY EXPIRING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO EVEN TALK TO RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE STATE OF OUR 2 TEAMS AND THOSE FACILITIES NEED CONSTANT UPGRADES AND UPKEEP.

SO THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IS REALLY DEDICATED TO THOSE 2 TEAMS.

I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE 13 HERE IN A IN A LONG TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

NEXT TIME YOU'RE BRINGING HOT DOGS AND POPCORN OUTBREAK FOR OUR INTERVIEW.

I ABSOLUTELY WILL BRING SOME BASEBALL.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US AND SHARING ALL YOUR EXPERTISE.

THEY PRETTY MUCH.

>> IT COMING UP, FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE GROWING TEACHER SHORTAGE.

PROBLEM HOW SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REACHING OUT ACROSS THE OCEAN.

WE'RE HELP FILLING THE TEACHER GAP.

>> POSITIVE NEWS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG USE AMONG TEENS.

>> A SURVEY SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH REPORTS, DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AMONG KIDS IS AT RECORD LOW LEVELS FOR THE 5TH STRAIGHT YEAR IN A ROW.

MUCH CREDIT GIVEN TO PROGRAMS THAT SHOW CHILDREN THE DANGERS OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS LIKE DRUG HOUSE ODYSSEY IN LEE COUNTY, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY NEARLY 1400TH GRADERS.

WGCU IS DANA HARPSTER HAS THE STORY.

>> AND CONSEQUENCES.

KIDS GOT A DOSE OF BOTH IN A 40 MINUTE WALK THROUGH PLAY FEATURING REAL STUDENTS, REAL EMT'S AND A REAL JUDGE IN REAL-LIFE SCENES LIKE THE STUDENTS WALKED THROUGH A PARTY.

>> A NEW FUND.

>> A DRUNK DRIVING ARREST.

THE COURT ROOM.

>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO LEARN A LESSON IN TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND.

>> THAT'S ALL PRESENT RECESS.

AND THAT'S AN EMERGENCY ROOM BRADSHAW FOR.

>> THE SCENES ILLUSTRATED WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE BAD CHOICES ARE CLEAR.

>> CLEAR.

>> DEB KAMELA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DRUG FREELY EXPLAINS WHY 5TH GRADE IS THE BEST TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THIS.

THE AGE OF ONSET, ACCORDING TO THE MONITORING, THE FUTURE STUDY IS 10.

>> WHICH ISN'T A LOT OF KIDS.

BUT EVEN IF IT'S JUST ONE KID.

SO WE WE LOOKED AT THAT DATA.

WE LOOK AT THE WAY KIDS BRAINS WORK AND IT'S THE KIDS THAT ARE 10, 11, 12, THEIR BRAINS LEARN BETTER IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY PART OF THE PROGRAM.

THE DRUG HAS OBVIOUSLY PLAYS EXISTED IN LEE COUNTY SINCE 1994.

>> THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE.

CAMILLA SAYS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> THAT HAS SCARED STRAIGHT MODEL.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT JUST IT WORKS FOR A WEEK OR 2 AND THEN IT STOPS WORKING.

WE REDID THE SCENES.

>> WE GOT RID OF SOME OF THE MORE.

A SCARY STUFF, BUT ITS TENANT.

GREG BUENO WITH THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL AGREES WITH THE PURPOSE IS NOT TO SCARE THEM.

THE PURPOSE IS THIS REAL LIFE SITUATIONS.

I SEE THE >> NEGATIVE SIDE OF THIS OFTEN WHERE BAD CHOICES LEAD TO TRAGEDIES.

I'VE KNOCKED ON MANY DOORS.

I HAVE BEEN THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS IN MANY SITUATIONS.

AND I SAW YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE BAD CHOICES THAT AFFECT ADVERSELY AFFECT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

MOVING FORWARD IN ITS HEARTBREAKING, PERHAPS FOR EDUCATION.

WE CAN PREVENT SOME OF THE TRAGEDIES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

>> THE PROGRAM RECEIVED HIGH MARKS FROM SPRING CREEK ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND BEN ELK.

AND SHE'S HAPPY THAT IT OPENS DISCUSSION ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.

>> I THINK HAVING THE EXPERIENCE WITH REAL EMT'S, REAL COPS, FIRE AND EMERGENCY SEEING THEM IN REAL LIFE MAKES IT REAL TO THEM VERSUS ON A VIDEO OR A WORKSHEET OR SOMETHING CALLED TIME OF THE I-59.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO THE CLASS AND WITH WE'RE GOING TO JUST NOT DO OUR PLANS.

HAVE WE HAVE THE DAY THAT IS GOING TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS.

>> 5TH GRADER GABRIEL DELGADO SHARES WHAT HE LEARNED TODAY.

I LEARNED NOT DID TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

>> THEY POISON YOUR BODY AND MIND AND THEY COULD COST IS SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.

>> THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD TO HAVE.

>> FOR WDSU NEWS, THIS IS DANA HARPSTER WITH THEM AND IN SCHOOL WITH MORE.

>> FOR MORE THAN A DECADE NOW, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN COUNT ON AN URGENT SEARCH EVERY YEAR TO FIND ENOUGH TEACHERS TO FILL THEIR VACANCIES.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE LEE COUNTY ARE TURNING TO FOREIGN TEACHERS TO HELP RELIEVE THIS LABOR PROBLEM.

THE GROWING WORKFORCE IS PROVING TO BE CRITICAL TO SOME SCHOOLS.

WGCUS SANDRA VICTO JOINS US NOW WITH THE STORY.

SANDRA, THIS INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT EFFORT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

JENNIFER.

>> LEE COUNTY STARTED TO BRING IN INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO.

IT BEGAN WITH 8 SCHOOLS.

NOW YOU'LL FIND FOREIGN TEACHERS IN 27 SCHOOLS.

ONE ADMINISTRATOR TOLD US THEY HAVE BEEN A LIFESAVER.

NOW THERE ARE CALLS NATIONWIDE TO UNDO RECENT FEDERAL ACTION THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR THESE INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS TO PUT DOWN LONG-TERM ROOTS IN THE U.S.

>> WHAT IS SO INEFFICIENT?

IT MAY BEEN SO WHO WE FIRST MET LIBIN IMMENSE AND THE SUMMER OF 2024.

>> SHE CALLED TEACHING IN THE U.S.

A LONG TIME DREAM.

>> AND THIS TYPE OF THEIR WALLET, EVERYTHING.

>> DESPITE HER EAGERNESS THIS SEASON, SCIENCE TEACHER FROM AFRICA HAD WORRIES ABOUT SUCCEEDING IN THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CLASSROOM.

>> MOST LIVE WITH THE BOTH THE CLASSROOM AND THEY DO IT.

AND THEN MY ASSETS.

I'VE REALIZED THAT I SPEAK DIFFERENT.

COME TO A NOW A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, MEN SAYS NOT ONLY ADAPTING TO FORT MYERS, MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> BUT THRIVING.

>> IT'S THIS LINE NOW.

I'VE BEEN WINNING AWARDS TO TELL THE DISTANCE IN GOLDEN APPLE.

SEOUL IS I'VE BEEN COURT SAYING AND THAT'S SOMETHING I DO FULL FRONT.

SO I'VE A CROSS COUNTRY COACH OF THE TRUCK COURTS.

I HOPE WITH SOCCER.

I HOPE I HOPE WITH LOCAL.

>> SHE ALSO EARNED SOME FANS IN THE 6TH GRADE CLASS LIKE OF US CAN NOVA.

>> I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND ANYTHING UNTIL SHE CAME IN TO START TEACHING ABOUT MATH AND VOLUME FORCES.

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN I STARTED UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE TOPIC.

AND THAT'S HOW MY WEIGHT IMPROVED A LOT.

BECAUSE LIKE I USED TO VERY THAT.

YES, IT IS INTO LIKE NOW.

I'M VERY GREAT AT IT.

>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAY THIS PROGRAM IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL FOR SUBJECTS THAT FACE TEACHER SHORTAGES LIKE MATH AND SCIENCE AND PARTICULARLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALLOWS FOREIGN TEACHERS TO DEVELOP MORE EFFECTIVE TEACHING SKILLS THAT THEY CAN BRING BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

PRINCIPAL BRIAN GIBSON SAYS INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS HAVE FILLED CRITICAL VACANCIES IN HIS SCHOOL.

>> I THINK THIS PROGRAM IS VALUABLE TO FORT MYERS.

MOST SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, NOT JUST WITH THE MISS BUT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE HERE, THEY BRING A LEVEL OF VALUE.

AN EXPERIENCE THAT GOES BEYOND MEASURE.

>> IT'S HELPING THE DISTRICT AS WELL IN THE 2022.

23 ACADEMIC YEAR.

THE COUNTY RECRUITED 20 INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS TODAY.

IT HAS MORE THAN 130 JANET MORRIS LEADS INTERNATIONAL TEACHER RECRUITMENT FOR LAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THESE ARE ALL CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

THEY'RE ALL EXPERIENCED TEACHERS.

>> THEY CANNOT BE A FIRST YEAR TEACHER COMING INTO THIS PROGRAM.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT 131 THAT WE HAVE, WE WOULD BE SEARCHING FOR OTHERS.

COULD WE MAKE THAT NUMBER?

WE WOULD HOPE SO.

>> MENSAH CALLS THIS A LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITY.

>> APART FROM THE LENDING THEY PAY MORE.

AS THE STREET.

>> MENSAH A MOTHER OF 2 BOYS SAYS SHE'S EARNING 10 TIMES WHAT YOU GET IN GHANA WHEN YOU FACTOR IN OUR COUNTRY'S EXCHANGE RATE, HER J ONE VISA MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HELP ALLOWS HER TO STATE 3 YEARS.

SHE HOPES TO GET THAT EXTENDED TO 5.

BUT BEYOND THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

>> WE DO WANT TO STAY A WEEK OFF.

>> SO IS THAT WE DO THE RIGHT THING AND YEN.

>> MENSAH SAYS INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD BENEFIT BY ALLOWING FOR A LONGER STAY.

MENSAH SAYS IT CAN TAKE YEARS FOR EDUCATORS TO LEARN THE NEW TEACHING METHODS SO THEY CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN AMERICAN CLASSROOMS LONGER, TEACHERS STAYS USED TO BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE H ONE B VISA.

A PATHWAY TO A GREEN CARD.

BUT CONGRESS RECENTLY CAPPED HOW MANY H ONE B VISAS COULD BE ISSUED AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RAISED THEIR COST.

LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SAY THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE HAS BEEN A BLESSING.

TONY, WATCHING TONIGHT IS MENSAH'S VICE PRINCIPAL SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.

>> SHE ADOPTED ME AS HER SCHOOL MOM.

I ADOPTED HER AS MY SCHOOL DAUGHTER AND SO WE HAVE THAT UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.

SO WE HAVE A I HOT.

>> IT WILL BE HAD TO BE ACCEPTED BECAUSE I'M FROM AFRICA.

BY.

THE ADMIN HERE.

PROVED EVERYTHIGN ROOM.

I FELT MAYBE BECAUSE I'M COMING FROM THAT AREA AND I HAVE I'M NOT SAYING IT WILL BE HARD TO EVEN MAKE RAINS.

>> AND THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF FRIENDS IN THE CLASSROOM EITHER.

SHE'S TAUGHT ME MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEACHER HAD EVER TAUGHT ME THAT LIFE.

>> SHE'S LIKE A BEST FRIEND.

LIKE A BEST BUDDY STUDY, FRIEND FOR ME.

>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HOPES TO ADD ANOTHER 30 INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR.

THEY HOPE TO GET SOME SPANISH SPEAKERS.

>> IN THE COMING YEARS.

THAT IS A GREAT STORY IN SANDERS BUT I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU WILL BE LEAVING.

THIS IS YOUR LAST FULL DAY AT WGCU.

YOU YOU ARE PURSUING SOME MATTERS THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOUR HEART, INCLUDING YOUR FAMILY.

YEAH.

AND AND SOME OTHER MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES.

YES, FAMILY, MY PARENTS, THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT.

A LITTLE MORE HELP RIGHT NOW.

EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SO GRATEFUL TO THE WGCU FOR ALLOWING ME TO.

SO A SENIOR PRODUCER AND HOST FOR THE INAUGURAL YEAR OF IN FOCUS, SON.

I KNOW THEY'RE EXCITING THINGS TO COME SO I WILL MISS YOU AND I WILL MISS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BUT I'LL BE SO I WILL JUST WANTING TO BUY LSE'S NOT ARE WELL AS HOW IT'S FAREWELL FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

THINK JOINING US.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, HELPING COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

BUT ONE NONPROFIT IS STRUGGLING TO GET THE RESOURCES NEEDED DUE TO A LACK OF PROPER EQUIPMENT.

>> EVERY DAY IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SUPERMARKETS THROW OUT OVER 350 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD.

MANY STORES ARE WORKING WITH NONPROFITS TO TURN WASTED FOOD INTO MEALS FOR THE NEEDY.

BUT HIS WGCUS YOUN JOO PARK REPORTS NOT EVERY NONPROFIT HAS THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO HANDLE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD AVAILABLE ARE FOR CARS MEANT SPIES.

>> PEOPLE FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS.

>> VANDY'S SPENDS HIS WINTERS IN FORT MYERS.

>> AS ONE OF THE MANY VOLUNTEERS FOR THE MIDWEST FOOD BANK.

THE NONPROFIT NEEDS ALL THE ASSISTANCE THEY CAN GET IN BOTH MANPOWER AS WELL AS RESOURCES.

ASIDE FROM DONATIONS, THE MIDWEST FOOD BANK PRACTICES, RETAIL RESCUE, ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, APPROXIMATELY 30% OF GROCERY ITEMS END UP BEING THROWN AWAY EACH YEAR.

FOODS THAT COULD GO TOWARD FIGHTING FOOD, INSECURITY.

THE FOOD IS TYPICALLY OFFERED TO FACILITIES SUCH AS THE MIDWEST FOOD BANK.

BUT ACCORDING TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DENNIS HALL, SOME DONATIONS HAD TO BE TURNED DOWN DUE TO A LACK OF PROPER TRANSPORTATION.

>> SOME COMPANIES WILL GIVE US THE FOOD, BUT WE HAVE THAT SLIGHT PRESERVE WAGES, COOLERS AND ALL THAT STUFF IN THERE AS WELL AS FOR EASIER AND JUST CLICK THE FOOD PROGRAM.

AND SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING MORE FOOD FOR THE FOOD BANK IN THE COMMUNITY.

INTEL ROSE BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING TO PAY FOR THIS.

>> CURRENTLY, THE ONLY CARGO VAN FOR THE FOOD BANK IS A NON REFRIGERATED VEHICLE THAT HE'S LOCKED 75,000 MILES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS.

A REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED.

THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER HOLLY TAYLOR SAYS THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN WITH CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION SPONSORSHIPS.

>> THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF >> WE >> SAID GRANTS FROM THE SCHULTZ FOUNDATION OF PUBLIX SUPERMARKETS HAVE ASSISTANT AND IT'S GOT IN THIS MIDWEST FOOD BANK TOWARD THE FINISH LINE OF PURCHASING THAT MUCH-NEEDED CLIMATE-CONTROLLED VAN AS MORE PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF THE SERVICES FROM THE MIDWEST FOOD BANK.

IT'S ONLY THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF SPONSORS AND THEIR VOLUNTEER FORCE THAT CAN KEEP THE NONPROFIT UP AND RUNNING.

>> WE GET PEOPLE ALSO LIKE, YOU KNOW, CORPORATIONS FROM INNER INDIVIDUALS THIS ON THEIR OWN TYRESE, SNOWBIRDS AND THE CULTURE HERE IS SO GREAT AND THE WONDERFUL HERE IT WAS JUST THIS ONE IS FOR WGCU YOUN JOO PARK.

>> COMING UP ON MONDAY, BREATHING LIFE BACK INTO FLORIDA'S CITRUS INDUSTRY.

HOUSE SIGNS OF STABILITY OFFER HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FLORIDA ORANGE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE TO HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS, THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN MONDAY RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.