October 21, 2022 — Collier County is one of six Florida counties to receive disaster relief funding for educators who are teaching and supporting students while rebuilding their own lives following Hurricane Ian.

Overall, $2 million from the Florida Disaster Fund will be awarded through local education foundations in the six hardest hit Florida counties: Lee County ($500,000), Collier County ($350,000), Charlotte County ($350,000), Sarasota County ($350,000), Desoto County ($225,000), and Hardee County ($225,000).  “These donations will help each district’s teachers, particularly those who were displaced, and there’s different needs right now,“ said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “There’s needs for home repair, for temporary shelter, there’s needs for reliable transportation. You had areas that flooded — that didn’t used to flood — and a lot of people lost vehicles.”

Governor Ron DeSantis made the announcement in Lee County at San Carlos Park Elementary, a school admirably housing three schools on one campus. Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) applauds and supports our friends and colleagues in the School District of Lee County for finding creative ways to continue educating students through this disaster. 

CCPS Board Chair Jen Mitchell, School Board member Roy Terry, and School Board Vice-Chair Dr. Jory Westberry joined CCPS Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton, Champions For Learning™ CEO Barbara Evans, and Champions For Learning™ Board Chair William Lutz for the Governor’s announcement. CCPS will partner with Champions For Learning™, The Education Foundation of Collier County, to support staff who need this assistance the most.