FHSAA nominates Blue Wave cheerleader coach for Coaches with Character Award

Rose Gleichowski, a math teacher and cheerleader coach at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, is one of seven Florida coaches from various sports nominated for the Drug Free Florida Coaches with Character Award for the 2008-09 school year.

Gleichowski began her coaching career at P.K. Yonge in 2003. She says it was by accident that she became a cheerleader coach. She actually began as a gymnastics and track and field athlete in high school.

Cheering and gymnastics go hand in hand, she says. The P.K. Yonge Spirit squad focuses on school spirit first with the 19 sports at the school. As for competition, Gleichowski said P.K. Yonge cheerleaders have taken part in the FHSAA championships the past two years.

Her philosophy is “Put the leader in Cheerleader”. Her cheerleaders need to be leaders, all the way around—in and outside of school and in the community. She wants her girls to be good people.

“The cheerleaders are by no means all perfect role models, but I do strive to make them better people. I can get thru to some of them while others are a daily struggle, but in the end, I think most of them come away better people,” Gleichowski said.

(Source: FHSAA news release)