Meet Daniel Mauro, Physical Education Teacher at St. Paul Catholic School in Leesburg
Coach Mauro’s advice for students: “Quitting never solves the problem. True effort and hard work will lead to success.”
St. Paul Catholic School in Leesburg is known for the strong bonds and family atmosphere that are fostered in the school community – and Coach Daniel Mauro, the athletic director and physical education coach, is a shining example of these principles.
Recently named St. Paul’s Distinguished Educator of the Year, Coach Mauro brings expertise, passion, and compassion to his role. Learn more about his background and why physical education is a critical part of a well-rounded education for your child at our Lake & Marion private schools.
A Passion for Coaching & Teaching
Raised in Orlando, Coach Mauro had a love of coaching since he was in high school. He went on to University of Central Florida, during which his passion for coaching also expanded into teaching. He graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCF with a focus on coaching and sports administration.
He joined the St. Paul’s community in 2014 and now teaches all physical education courses and oversees school sports, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track & field teams.
Coach Mauro was attracted to the Lake & Marion Catholic Schools community because the focus on faith formation and development of the whole child matched his own values. At St. Paul’s, he found a community that shared his passion for physical education and its ability to help children not only develop physically, but also teach important skills and values like discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Helping Children Grow in Mind, Body, and Spirit
Coach Mauro brings his experience and knowledge of physical education to every class. His goal is to always keep students engaged.
The key, he says, is making sure “directions and lessons are as simple as possible, regardless of what age group, kindergarten to adults. Once you get ahead of yourself trying to explain something, you lose their attention.”
What he enjoys most about teaching at a Catholic school is the opportunity to help students from all backgrounds grow into truly good, loving people through mental, physical, and spiritual development. This is made possible at Catholic schools because of the structure in discipline and controllable numbers in the classroom, providing teachers the ability to interact more with each student.
Getting to Know Coach Mauro
Outside the classroom, here are a few fun facts about St. Paul’s beloved coach:
He loves spending time with his wife and daughter at home, traveling during the school breaks, and participating in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, darts, and bowling.
He has three pets: a chihuahua named Bruno and two cats named Sasha and Winnie.
He’s a big fan of classic horror/monster movies and loves the TV show “Parks & Recreation”.
His favorite place he’s traveled to is Paris. “You can spend an entire day just at the Louvre,” he says. “So much to see and do in the city.”
His favorite Bible verse is Galatians 5:22 - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”.
His is also a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Thank you, Coach Mauro, for the expertise, dedication, and fun you bring to the St. Paul Catholic School community!
Faces of Catholic Education is an ongoing series in which we spotlight faculty and staff at Lake & Marion Catholic Schools and celebrate the love they have in their hearts for seeing children grow through a Catholic school education.