Leali began his career working in marketing for the Oswegoland Park District; he was also the administrative director for the Limelight Theatre Company. He eventually was hired to teach English-related courses at
Oswego High School. After teaching there for a few years, he changed positions regularly, including working with independent bookshops. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, Leali returned to teaching at Oswego High School. The following year, the book won the Golden Kite Award, and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade Literature. Leali's sophomore novel,
Matteo, was published by HarperCollins in 2023. It was a finalist for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade Literature. Leli's third novel,
The Truth About Triangles was published by HarperCollins in 2024. == Awards and honors ==