Former firefighter, personal trainer and NFL player, Nordly Capi is the newest addition to Oviedo’s staff as a social studies teacher and assistant football coach.
In early February, six periods of U.S. history and psychology honors classes were left without a teacher after the previous instructor, Mrs. Cox, switched to virtual education. Capi took them all in, utilizing his education in organization and motivation, which he gained from studying communications and organizational supervision at Colorado State and Akron University, respectively.
“A lot of the skill set that I learned from college is applying in day-to-day life … it applies almost every day [and] teaches me how to, like, manage my time, manage other people and just basically how to come to work and get the job done,” Capi said.
His short time at Oviedo has proved more than simply carrying out the job. Every day is an opportunity to ensure he’s prepared to then lead his students toward their “best chance of success for school.”
Among the students disillusioned by Cox’s departure, many quote their enthusiasm for learning with Capi.
“The things I wouldn’t think matter [he] proves to me that they really [do] help me … helping me overall in my craft,” junior Juan Carlos “JP” Payano said.
Payano, a defensive lineman for the varsity football team, takes U.S. history honors with Capi. But outside the classroom, Capi turns from teacher to coach, offering guidance in practice.
“[The coaches] really know, like, everybody personally in and out and [they] know our strong suits, what we’re good at and how to improve us,” junior Jaiden McNeil said.
McNeil is a cornerback on the team, also benefiting daily from the new coach. Having played for the NFL for over three years, Capi said he hopes to translate his life experiences to his kids.
“[Capi is] very focused on the little things to make you better and he, like, spends more time trying to perfect that one thing,” Payano said.
Student athletes have always needed to balance school and personal life, but junior year makes it even harder to do so. Standardized testing, increased rigor of courseload, recruitment and the threat of upcoming college applications create a need for special teachers – the kind that motivates and supports their students.
“I motivate them by letting them know that anything you want to achieve is possible all through hard work, very similar on the field, you know, nobody’s going to come out and give it to you,” Capi said. “That’s our job as adults to prepare you guys as best we can. That way when your opportunity presents itself, boom, you’re ready and then you get to change your life for the better.”
Though he graduated from Ocoee High and was also a teacher and coach at Lake Brantley, Capi referred to choosing Oviedo as easy after hearing about the environment.
“I think they [Oviedo] have the best teachers in all of Seminole County. Scratch that. The best staff in all of Seminole County,” Capi said.
Students and players have responded to the social studies newcomer with respect and content. In a matter of weeks, Capi turned a teacher-less classroom, unaware of what comes next, into a comfortable environment for students.
“You have to just be able to first command the classroom so everything is in order,” Capi said. “Then you have to be somewhat relatable, with the lessons and the atmosphere … so they can understand. That’s what I try to do.”
