 Born in Kankakee, Illinois, Schale is a graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he received degrees in political science and history.He got his political start in 1996, managing the state house campaign of Doug Wiles of St. Augustine.Wiles, who for several terms represented the most Republican seat held by a Democrat, went on to become the Minority Leader of the state house in Florida, where Schale joined him as his communications director.