LEON COUNTY, Fla. — Leon County Schools is considering a new approach to address ongoing teacher shortages by recruiting international educators to work in local classrooms through a J-1 visa cultural exchange program.
During the 2024-2025 school year, nine teaching positions in the district went unfilled. This year, that number has grown to 16, and those positions remain vacant.
District leaders say staffing shortages have created ongoing challenges, including teachers leaving mid-year and schools having to rely on long-term substitutes…