Classical Education Management
A Management Company for Classical Schools Founded by Classical School Operators
Classical Education Management serves three classical charter schools in Brevard County, Florida. We possess unique expertise in the areas of :
- Finance- Budgeting, human resources, payroll, certification and fingerprinting, grants management, and state/district compliance
- Governance- Board structure, policy manuals, and guidance
- Training- Training in Orton-Gillingham-based phonics (Riggs, Literacy Essentials), Singapore Math, classical pedagogy and foundations, as well as best practices for classical classrooms
- Leadership Development- Mentorship programs for new principals and school leaders
- New School Start-Up- Assistance with charter applications and interviews, bond financing information, and facility acquisition.
- Food service- Assistance with National School Lunch Program compliance and application
We currently service three schools in Brevard County, Florida, two of which are state of Florida High-Performing Charters.
- Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at Palm Bay (K-12): 6162 Minton Rd NW, Palm Bay, FL
- Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at West Melbourne (K-12): 3455 Norfolk Pkwy, West Melbourne, FL
- Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at Lockmar (K-8): 720 Emerson Dr NE, Palm Bay, FL
ABOUT US
Classical Education Management Board
John Moran
President
John Moran, president of Classical Education Management LLC, president and chief executive officer at Pineapple Cove Academy Inc., and founder of Pineapple Cove Classical Academy, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in education and business services.
With nearly two decades of experience, Mr. Moran has built a successful career in education and business services. He has excelled as president of Classical Education Management LLC since 2017, founder of Pineapple Cove Classical Academy Inc. since 2014, president and chief executive officer of Pineapple Cove Academy since 2014, president of JAC Development LLC since 2014, and owner of Pineapple Cove Academy since 2006. He is an active member of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, donates to local charities, and sponsors other schools. Laying a solid educational foundation, he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He has established a management company alongside a dedicated team of individuals who have supported him in running the schools, and he is deeply invested in preserving the unique culture he has cultivated across all his schools, and continuously strives to uphold these values.
Reflecting on his path, Mr. Moran’s background is rooted in business, and before venturing into education, he was involved in tradeshows, retail, and wholesaling. His transition into the service industry was sparked while listening to a business radio station, where a seller from Australia discussed buying daycares. Inspired, he shifted from retail to the preschool sector. His business philosophy of providing quality products at a reasonable price seamlessly transferred to his new venture, leading to the success of his first school, which quickly enrolled 420 children. This success motivated him to open his first charter school, which has since grown so popular that there are currently 4,000 children on the waiting list for the three schools.
Mr. Moran takes great pride in collaborating with local policymakers and developers to explore expanding his school network. A significant project he is championing is the development of a state-of-the-art, Olympic-size swimming pool, aptly named “Wave at Pineapple Cove Academy.” This ambitious project, estimated at $6 to $7 million, is generously funded by developers. The pool will not only serve school competitions but will also act as a community hub, accessible to the public on weekends and during the summer months. His notable accomplishments include the establishment and management of multiple schools that have become pillars of the community. The demand for these schools has been exceptional, consistently outperforming other educational institutions in the area. Over the past seven years, he has successfully opened a third charter school, driven by his remarkable ability to identify and nurture individuals’ strengths, often before they realize their own potential. This talent for fostering growth has resulted in exceptional performance among his team and staff.
Mr. Moran’s journey into education began with the establishment of Pineapple Cove Academy as a preschool, which later expanded into charter schools. To ensure efficient oversight, he founded a management company to help run the schools. Today, he oversees three preschools and three charter schools, with the first of his schools opening in the 1990s. He attributes his success to the influence of his grandfather, who emigrated from Germany to the United States. Starting out as a baker, his grandfather took the bold step of establishing his own successful bakery. In the coming years, he is committed to continuing his mission of building schools and providing quality education to children and families who may not be able to afford it, ensuring that more students have access to the opportunities they deserve.
STAFF
Kelly Gunter, Ed.D.
Director of School Operations
Dr. Gunter is a member of the Founding Board of Pineapple Cove Classical Academy and was the founding principal for the first three years of our school. Dr. Gunter wrote the original charter application for Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at Palm Bay, as well as the subsequent applications for West Melbourne and Lockmar. In addition, Dr. Gunter authored the Charter School Program grants for both schools, totaling over $1,550,000 in grant awards.
Dr. Gunter brings 20 years of education experience as a classroom teacher, college professor, and faculty advisor to PCCA. She is certified in Elementary Education, Exceptional Student Education, Reading K-12, English 6-12 and Educational Leadership K-12.
As Director of School Operations, Dr. Gunter handles much of the business tasks associated with the school, manages grants, ensures district, state, and federal compliance, and continues to mentor school leadership. She completed her Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and her dissertation topic was Understanding Teacher Retention and Job Satisfaction Factors in Different School Types (Traditional Public Schools versus Charter Schools).
Email Dr. Gunter here.
Tara Engeron, M.A.
Coordinator, Special Projects
Ms. Engeron began working with PCCA at its inception as a founding member of the governing board. After serving on the board, she taught third grade at the school for two years, and then served in the role of Assistant Principal at the Palm Bay campus for three years. In her role as Coordinator of Special Projects, she assists the school-based leadership teams and serves with the Director to provide support of school-based initiatives.
Ms. Engeron brings 9 years of education experience as a classroom teacher, adjunct college instructor, and student academic advisor. As a complement to her role in student services at Eastern Florida State College, Ms. Engeron earned her master’s degree in Career and Technical Education from the University of Central Florida. Her student services experience includes student scheduling, program coordination, and admissions.
E-mail Ms. Engeron here.
Ms. Nicole Roberts
Director of Orthography Instruction
Ms. Roberts graduated in 2007 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. Although she has taught in all the primary grades, she is a kindergarten teacher at heart. Ms. Roberts is a founding staff member of Pineapple Cove Classical Academy in Palm Bay. She stepped out of the classroom in 2018 to support teachers and scholars with the Literacy Essentials Curriculum. She has developed content for fourth through sixth grade, and created resources that enhance the daily instruction of orthography for our elementary staff. Ms. Roberts provides teachers with professional development to continue their growth in the field of education. She is passionate about training others in this curriculum. It is her mission to share this knowledge and her passion with colleagues, parents, and teachers at classical schools outside of PCCA.
E-mail Ms. Roberts here.
Mrs. Jessica Jaime, M.,Ed.
Literacy Trainer/New Teacher Mentor
Mrs. Jessica Jaime has been working at Pineapple Cove Classical Academy since 2018. She began her career in education in 2014, and has enjoyed being able to teach many scholars since then. Mrs. Jaime received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Reading from Grand Canyon University. For the past eight years, Mrs. Jaime has taught both third and fifth grade. She is excited to step into her new role at Pineapple Cove Classical Academy as the Literacy Coach/New Teacher Mentor and support teachers with orthography instruction.
E-mail Mrs. Jaime here.
Mrs. Jennifer Chilsom, M. Ed.
Mathematics Coach/New Teacher Mentor
Mrs. Jennifer Chilsom joined Pineapple Cove Classical Academy this year. She began her career in the classroom in 2005 and has taught both second and third grade throughout the past 18 years. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from William Woods University and her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Walden University. In addition to her role in the classroom, Mrs. Chilsom has been a lead mentor to teachers for several years as well as responsible for leading professional development in math instruction for both teachers and parents. She is excited to step into her new role as Math Coach in order to support teachers with the process of teaching from the concrete to the pictorial to the abstract.
E-mail Mrs. Chilsom here.
Mr. Manny A. Ramirez
Director of School Culture
Mr. Ramirez brings 21 years of educational experience to his new role as Director of School Culture. He began his career in education as a Science teacher in Miami-Dade County where he ascended to Science Department Chair, school-based administrator, and the district offices. Mr. Ramirez moved to Brevard County in 2014 and taught Science at Brevard Public Schools before being promoted to school-based administration. He retired from BPS in 2019 and began working with Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at the Palm Bay campus first as a Spanish teacher, then Dean of Student Affairs.
In addition to his experience in education, Mr. Ramirez has a broad-based background in entrepreneurship and management. His experience, combined with his Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Thomas University and Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, brings a breadth of knowledge to the Classical Education Management team. Mr. Ramirez truly believes in our mission and vision and is very proud of our schools, staff, and organization.
E-mail Mr. Ramirez here.
Classical Education Management provides support for classical schools in the areas of finance, governance, food service, educational training, and more! Contact us to discuss the individual needs of your school.