By Coach Moore and Gaurika Gupta
Yeah, America has George Washington. But Austin High School had Michael Leach. And
he had a Harley.
Mr. Leach, the school’s first principal who opened the campus doors in the fall of 1995
passed away Tuesday, Sept. 10 after a year-long battle with ALS. He was 75.
“The thing I remember about him is that he was an old school principal,” said Rachel
Cortez, current Principal of AHS. “He used to say that if we control the halls, we control the
school. And that’s something I have remembered in all my years of being in administration.”
After a long career on different campuses in FBISD, Leach took the head principal’s
position in 1995 as the seventh high school in the district prepared to open. Leach went on to
captain the Bulldog ship for 15 years before retiring and moving to Dallas with his wife Joanie.
“He was an excellent principal,” said Mikki Nicholson, longtime math teacher at AHS.
“He hired me, so it was very meaningful for me when he was here for those first 15 years. I’m
really grateful to have known the man.”
During his 15 years, Austin High School stayed atop the district academically and were
showered with honors yearly through their different accomplishments in extra-curricular
activities.
“I think the most memorable thing about Mr. Leach was that he set the standard,” said
Nicholas Caromano, another hire of Leach’s. “He set the school up for excellence. That was his
big thing because you start off excellent and excellence just keeps on growing.”
School culture was another point of emphasis for Leach. As the area evolved and
diversified, Leach was way ahead of the game in planning the future for the campus.
“Mr. Leach set up the culture for this school,” said government teacher Julie Richoux
who was hired by Leach as well. She continued, while getting emotional, “He made me the
educator I am today. The way I treat my students. The respect I give them. The respect I have
for my coworkers and just knowing how to be loyal to a school.”
Leach was known as an “all business” principal. However, after hours he would make
sure staff morale remained high, often joining the faculty in social settings.
“He was very kind, very sweet,” Cortez said. “He liked to have fun and loved music.”
Leach had a certain “rebel style” about him too. He owned a Harley and even made an
appearance at a staff training after his retirement. Leach drove the Harley into the cafeteria to
a roaring applause from the staff.
“He was a cool guy,” said Cortez. “He even rode a motorcycle. Not many building
principals were like him.”
Memorial services have yet to be determined.
