LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Mark Leoni was nominated by two students. The following profile contains text from each nomination.

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"I still remember walking into Mr. Leoni's classroom for the first time. The atmosphere felt so different compared to my sophomore year math class at Arrowhead High School," said a student. "When the bell rang, a tall and slender figure stood ready to introduce himself. 'My name is Mr. Leoni, and I will be your functions teacher.' His voice was so loud and deep that it almost echoed within the room. I knew immediately that this was going to be a big change."

"I remember when Mr. Leoni constantly called me out in the middle of class for zoning out. It was so weird to me because no teacher had ever been able to notice when I was zoning out. It was almost like he had some superpower that alerted him when I wasn't paying attention. I was so confused about how he knew that I would even be focused on the fact that the whole class was giggling and staring at me," said the student.

"In the past, I have disliked strict and assertive teachers like Mr. Leoni, but for some reason, I couldn't help but appreciate and respect him. Although it may not seem like it, he cared for every single one of his students. This realization gave me a completely different outlook on life. It allowed me to process the fact that people like my friends or family who had called me out on my downfalls before were not trying to make me feel bad but instead trying to motivate me because they knew what my true potential was. They didn't want it to go to waste," said the student.

"Several times, a classmate of mine would come up to me after math class and ask me why I would always get picked on by Mr. Leoni. They expect me to say something bad about him or his teaching, but I have never had and never will. Instead, I tell them that I like being called out by him because he knows I'm a smart kid and wants to get me back on track so I know what's going on," said the student.

"When I needed it most in life, Mr. Leoni taught me the importance of being a tough teacher. He has pushed me to excel in math more than I can imagine and taught me that math could be enjoyable. I am forever thankful for the time I have shared with Mr. Leoni and the numerous things he has taught me," said the student.

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"It was sophomore year of high school, and I was at an all-new low. I have never been so stressed and anxious due to just one teacher. Math was my second period, the worst hour of the day, and I had just gotten back a quiz from math. Another D. Not surprising as math seemed to drag me down this year," said another student.

"I was previously an almost straight-A student. My freshman year went well for me, but this mentality I learned from my current math teacher seeped into all my other classes and my personality," said the student. "I went in multiple times for help but always felt worse, like I should be more intelligent, like there was no point trying as I was already too far behind. The only thing I ever talked about was how much I hated school."

"My friends started to get worried about me to the point where they reported me to the school counselor. I was called in to talk about my mental health, and my day ended in tears," said the student. "I finished my year with a C-, high enough to move on to the next level of math."

"I was so happy, but I was placed into a math class where I now felt behind. At that point, I felt like there was no point trying to catch up. I ended that semester with a C," said the student.

"I moved my second semester to a new teacher, Mr. Leoni. I was scared to have another experience like my sophomore year as I had never met this teacher before," said the student. "A weight was lifted off my shoulders when he first started teaching. I felt like I finally understood. 

'Maybe this unit's easier than the rest,' I thought."

"My first quiz came back, and I received an A- with a hand-drawn smile. It was the first A I had earned on a math quiz since freshman year. I was so proud of myself, I took a picture and sent it to my mom. She was just as shocked," said the student.

"Almost every quiz after was an A. I finally grasped the idea and was having fun in class. I looked forward to seeing Mr. Leoni every day as he taught in a way I understood," said the student.

"Instead of giving us a math textbook without explanation, he genuinely cared about how thoroughly a topic was covered. He showed examples of the work and reviewed common mistakes," said the student. "The first time I didn't understand a topic, I felt comfortable asking him for clarification. He never blamed me for not understanding something and took time out of his breaks to review what I was having trouble with."

"I turned in a homework assignment online once. I didn't realize my formatting was wrong, but it was," said the student. "The next day, he told me that he didn't receive my homework– I was one to do my homework, and he paid attention to those who cared about assignments. I remember asking, 'Do you want me to resubmit the assignment?' His reply was something I would have never gotten from any other teacher. 'I trust you.'"

"Those words showed what a kind man he truly is. It showed how closely he paid attention to students. I don't think he understands how much he has helped me leave a bad place in my learning," said the student.