NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO searching for missing endangered adult Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a missing person.
The Weather Authority: Scattered storms for your Saturday The Weather Authority is tracking afternoon scattered storms for Saturday this Labor Day weekend.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 2 The Golden Eagles took down the Cougars 64-7 to win the Crosstown Showdown for the 26th year in a row.
NAPLES Naples mayor speaks out after DUI arrest Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann has sent a statement to WINK News after being charged with a DUI.
FORT MYERS Woman stabbed at Fort Myers gas station Authorities responded to an active scene at a 7-eleven in Fort Myers after a woman was stabbed early Friday evening.
FORT MYERS FMPD investigating a van that followed a student from bus stop Police said a suspicious van followed a middle school student home from the bus stop on Thursday and yelled, “Get in the van.”
CAPE CORAL Report: Teen was on crosswalk when she was hit The driver of the box truck told officers he didn’t see Kendra as she rode in front of him, and he started to go.
FORT MYERS BEACH Celebration of Jimmy Buffet Day at Margaritaville Friday was Jimmy Buffett Day at Margaritaville and Fort Myers Beach is gearing up for a fun party all weekend long.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County deputies hold training for mental health encounters Charlotte County deputies are entering the community equipped with a new tool for handling mental health: the crisis initiative training.
Neighbors worried about flooding in Rotonda Heights Neighbors in Rotonda Heights are fed up with the flooding and they want to see it fixed.
ORLANDO Smart living moms reclaim their careers Betsy Gardner president and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce started Relaunch, a program to help stay-at-home moms.
FORT MYERS BEACH A closer look at the gas leak that killed 2 men at Fort Myers Beach home A closer look at the gas leak that killed two men in Fort Myers Beach has revealed some new details leading up to the deaths.
SANIBEL Sanibel CVS Pharmacy reopening after Hurricane Ian The CVS Pharmacy in Sanibel is reopening nearly two years after Hurricane Ian caused severe damage to it.
FORT MYERS Woman transported after boat hits large wake under Midpoint Bridge A woman had to be transported to the hospital after suffering an injury when the boat she was in struck the wake of a yacht.
NEW YORK (AP) Trump has history sparking outrage for incidents around veterans even as military voters backed him The reported altercation at Arlington National Cemetery involving Donald Trump’s staff was far from the first time that veterans or the families of service members have criticized the former president for words or behavior they saw as disparaging.
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO searching for missing endangered adult Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a missing person.
The Weather Authority: Scattered storms for your Saturday The Weather Authority is tracking afternoon scattered storms for Saturday this Labor Day weekend.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 2 The Golden Eagles took down the Cougars 64-7 to win the Crosstown Showdown for the 26th year in a row.
NAPLES Naples mayor speaks out after DUI arrest Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann has sent a statement to WINK News after being charged with a DUI.
FORT MYERS Woman stabbed at Fort Myers gas station Authorities responded to an active scene at a 7-eleven in Fort Myers after a woman was stabbed early Friday evening.
FORT MYERS FMPD investigating a van that followed a student from bus stop Police said a suspicious van followed a middle school student home from the bus stop on Thursday and yelled, “Get in the van.”
CAPE CORAL Report: Teen was on crosswalk when she was hit The driver of the box truck told officers he didn’t see Kendra as she rode in front of him, and he started to go.
FORT MYERS BEACH Celebration of Jimmy Buffet Day at Margaritaville Friday was Jimmy Buffett Day at Margaritaville and Fort Myers Beach is gearing up for a fun party all weekend long.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County deputies hold training for mental health encounters Charlotte County deputies are entering the community equipped with a new tool for handling mental health: the crisis initiative training.
Neighbors worried about flooding in Rotonda Heights Neighbors in Rotonda Heights are fed up with the flooding and they want to see it fixed.
ORLANDO Smart living moms reclaim their careers Betsy Gardner president and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce started Relaunch, a program to help stay-at-home moms.
FORT MYERS BEACH A closer look at the gas leak that killed 2 men at Fort Myers Beach home A closer look at the gas leak that killed two men in Fort Myers Beach has revealed some new details leading up to the deaths.
SANIBEL Sanibel CVS Pharmacy reopening after Hurricane Ian The CVS Pharmacy in Sanibel is reopening nearly two years after Hurricane Ian caused severe damage to it.
FORT MYERS Woman transported after boat hits large wake under Midpoint Bridge A woman had to be transported to the hospital after suffering an injury when the boat she was in struck the wake of a yacht.
NEW YORK (AP) Trump has history sparking outrage for incidents around veterans even as military voters backed him The reported altercation at Arlington National Cemetery involving Donald Trump’s staff was far from the first time that veterans or the families of service members have criticized the former president for words or behavior they saw as disparaging.
Middle School QQ Principal Dr. Joseph Restino. (Credit: WINK News) A lack of respect, not making a livable wage, and the need for better support are just a few things driving teachers to leave the education field. But children still need a place to learn and someone at the chalkboard teaching them. ‘Wink Investigates’ reporter Kellie Miller takes us inside Lee County’s newest middle school and learns how the principal plans to recruit and retain teachers. “Some people told me that opening a building is the greatest and most stressful part that you’ll ever do, and they are 100% right,” Dr. Joseph Restino said. Restino became the principal of Middle School QQ in Lehigh Acres on February 7. The school doesn’t have an official name yet, but it’s set to open in August for 900 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Restino has to recruit about 40 teachers before August. That doesn’t sound like a huge number, but it is when you take into account the district-wide shortages. Right now, there are about 200 open teacher positions in Lee County. “I can’t do it alone. I need help,” Restino said. “I want to build something great with the community, with the teachers that apply, with the families, everyone.” Restino is recruiting teachers through various online platforms and hosting hiring events. In the meantime, he’s working to spread his education philosophy throughout the community. As principal, he plans to focus on shared-decision making. “The schools that I’ve worked at where you have that shared vision and that shared-decision making, there has been very little turnover,” he said. Researchers at Brown University report a steady decline in teachers’ sense of control over instructional decisions. But, Restino is working to ensure his teachers feel empowered to make their own decisions. In fact, he said he’s had many candidates ask about his vision when it comes to math, but he’s allowing his new hires to develop concrete plans. “I actually said, I want you to help me develop that vision…At the expense of having something concrete, I am offering you the ability to help me develop something amazing.” Prior to becoming principal of Middle School QQ, Restino was the assistant principal at Harns Marsh Middle School. He worked closely with Alex Dworzanski, who encouraged him to take on a bigger role. Restino hopes to establish strong relationships with his staff members, provide professional development opportunities, and offer a fresh start for educators looking to grow. “I truly believe that people want to come to work, in general, and want to know that they make a difference,” Restino said. “And there is some sort of mobility that they can be making and that they have this feeling that they are not being told what to do, they are being consulted on and moving forward as a team.” The Lee County School district is sending a team to recruit teachers from Puerto Rico on Mar. 24 and 25. The district’s annual spring recruitment fair is on April 29. If you are interested in working at Middle School QQ, or any other Lee County school, you can visit leeschools.net/careers.