The view of the pep rally from the floor is different from what most students see from the stands. As Michael DeLeonardo, Coach De, announces Jupiter High School’s (JHS) pep rallies, he sees 1500 students dressed in our school’s colors watching him, waiting. 

Coach De has been announcing the pep rallies for years, but he’s been teaching at JHS for longer. Starting in Aug.1995, Coach De has spent his 31 years at JHS teaching across five departments. 

With classes such as Speech and Debate, English, Latin, Government, Economics, Drama, Classical Studies, Global Perspectives and more recently, Student Government Association (SGA) advisor for 7 years. 

As of the 2025-2026 school year, Coach De is the SGA advisor and teaches a mixed class of Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Classical Studies and AICE Global Perspectives. 

In May of 2026, Coach De will have finished his final and seventh year as SGA advisor. Passing the role onto AICE General Paper teacher at JHS, Jake Toyota. 

“I want other people to have opportunities to experience these things. I think it’s time for a fresh outlook and I’d rather leave one year too early than one year too late,” DeLeonardo said.

DeLeonardo will continue to teach AICE Classical Studies and Global Perspectives, something he has said he hopes to do for as long as he can. 

Coach De has served many roles as well as teacher. Starting as a substitute teacher, the athletic director for eight years, sponsoring clubs, and still finding time to act as support and the backbone for our school. 

The impact he’s made on those around him is evident, to the point of being featured in a recently published book, “Thank you, Teachers: True Stories from America’s Teachers, Our Last Line of Defense and Our First Line of Hope” by Matt Eversmann.

The chapter featuring Coach De details parts of DeLeonardo’s life before becoming a teacher, and what led him to become one. With the previous chapter featuring Coach De’s wife, Tammy DeLeonardo who works as well at JHS. 

She is head of all choice programs, working in funding for the school. After being a part of the school for 31 years, she announced her retirement recently and her last month at JHS is September of the 2026-2027 school year.

Coach De and his wife were also recognized for their abilities as educators, both receiving the Dwyer Award at different times in their life. DeLeonardo won it in 2000 and his wife won it in 2012. There was only one other teacher who won the award during their time teaching at JHS. 

The William T. Dwyer Awards for Excellence in Education is facilitated by the Economic Council Palm Beach County Foundation. It recognizes teachers annually in private and public schools, often regarded as the highest award an educator in Palm Beach County can receive. 

These recognitions are some of many. All of which reflect upon how Coach De as an educator and as a leader, his effectiveness in both being evident among his students and colleagues. 

“What he’s done for this school and all the kids in the school, is absolutely amazing,” Doug Furgeson, gym teacher at JHS, said. 

Coach De puts JHS as his priority. Never saying no to any who ask for help or to be a part of something, always putting in his full effort, all whilst establishing genuine relationships with many of those he talks to on a day-to-day basis. 

“He really lets people be themselves and approaches them with respect and understanding. This is a wonderful skill to have with students that are going through a whole lot of different situations,” Stephen Germana, AICE Digital Media teacher and close friend with Coach De, said.

Coach De is often recognized to possess strengths in his style of leading as advisor. His leading style is very centered towards setting the students up for success and providing space for them to grow.

“He’s more supervising than leading. He helps the students learn to take initiative but he’s still there if you need him… and he’s hard on you but not to the point where you become unmotivated. But hard on you enough to push you to your potential,” Shelby Schutt, sophomore and SGA member, said. 

He’s learned the effective dynamic that allows SGA to accomplish the multitude of projects and tasks they do each year. 

“I just stay out of the way of smart, talented kids, and provide them with direction and allow them to solve their own problems,” DeLeonardo said. 

While he has striven to adhere to this philosophy throughout his seven years as SGA advisor, what lies underneath this effective dynamic is a true dedication to each individual student and the class as a whole. Despite the fact that Coach De will still be teaching on campus after the change, it is still a transition many students are not taking lightly. 

“I wish he would stay for two more years… I’m really upset he’s leaving,” Kinley Daly, sophomore and SGA Community Service Chair, said.

Daly is a player for JHS’s flag football team and had Coach De as a coach in the 2024-2025 school year, as he also serves as one of the Flag Football freshman coaches. 

“I remember coming into school in the worst mood one morning and I don’t even know how he did it, but I left his class laughing tears out of my eyes,” Daly said. 

Partially due to Coach De, the environment SGA fosters is often welcoming and hardworking. Being a considerable commitment to those who join, Coach De has worked to make SGA a program all participants want to be in more than just the benefits it brings. 

“My freshman year of high school, I randomly said that he had to stay all four years because I didn’t want to have anyone else. We made a camp promise, and that’s why he didn’t break it. Because he was supposed to leave last year,” Sloan Bello, senior and SGA member, said.

Almost every student at JHS can point out Coach De. Whether he read their college essay, helped them practice a presentation, made them laugh when they came to him crying, or simply remembered their name after only one interaction. Coach De’s biggest strength is his devotion, and commitment he gives to every relationship, no matter how brief. 

“Whether you’re a teacher or a student, I’m hoping that I made it okay to enjoy being at school,” Coach De said.