He was born in Chicago, but his family decided to move to Mexico.
He came back at the age of 22 and he had to start all over including learning how to speak English. He worked as a janitor at Deady Middle School, then became a teacher. Fast forward 36 years to today, he took the oath to become trustee for HISD. It's the very same district where he began working with students.
Leal said he couldn't have accomplished it all without the help and support of so many wonderful people.
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