Beginning in the 22-23 school year, Mike DiGirolamo (Mr. D) started as acting principal for the second half of the school year. By the end of the school year, he was officially named Principal of DeLand High School.
Principal Michael Degirolmo standing in front of a DHS banner.
Around 17 years ago, Mr. D started his career in the Volusia County School System as a math teacher here at DeLand High School. He later became an administrator at Southwestern Middle School and then eventually moved back to DeLand High. This time he returned as an assistant principal, which is what he has been doing until he officially became principal.
Since being principal, Mr. D has already been improving our campus by preventing fights on campus, getting the bathrooms under control and starting new reward systems on campus; such as the new black senior IDs.
His thoughts for these IDs are to promote good grades and behavior by rewarding deserving seniors with perks such as free tickets to select sports games and more.
On top of all of the things he has already done to improve our campus, he also has plans to better our future even more. He plans to get more community involvement, as well as create possible opportunities with Embry Riddle and Stetson University.
Another initiative he plans to start is to add more elective opportunities to students. Some possible new electives in the works include but are not limited to speech, contemporary literature, law studies and aeronautical tech.
When asked his favorite part about being principal, Mr. D confidently said, “getting to interact with the kids, families and community.”
Before ever having the idea to work in the school system, Mr. D was studying pre-med in college with hopes of becoming a doctor. As time went on, he started working with kids and realized that he wanted to be in the school system.
Mr. D says that one of the biggest lessons he’s learned through his job is that everyone has a story, and you never know what’s going on in other people’s lives.
Mr. D talked about a story he heard from Fred Rodgers. In this story, Mister Rodger’s was in the car with his mother when they passed a bad car accident. Instead of pointing out all of the devastation from the accident, Mister Rodger’s mother pointed out how many people came to help.
This story reminds him that there’s always a different perspective to think about, and it's better to look on the more positive side. Mister Rodgers is considered a role model of sorts to Mr. D; along with his father, brothers and past DeLand High principal, Mitch Moyer.
Mr. D strives to do as much good as he can in his lifetime. As principal, he wants to do what's best for the students, community and school as a whole. He is a selfless leader who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Even if that means staying after hours or taking work home.
Being the principal of the largest school in the county is lots of work, but Mr. D does an impeccable job. DeLand High is lucky to have him as the top DAWG!
Photo by Kylie Taylor
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