OUR SCHOOL

Welcome to Gulf Coast Classical Academy!

Our Mission & Purpose:

At Gulf Coast Classical Academy, our mission is to support Christian families in educating their children to the highest standards. We equip them with wisdom and virtue to recognize the objective truth, goodness, and beauty that exist in the world all around us.

Our purpose is to promote the transmission of Western Civilization through a Latin-centered, classical, Christian core curriculum. GCCA is designed to develop a generation of Christian leaders who will be equipped to serve their families, churches, and communities.

What is Classical Education?

In classical education, students study the classics and the classical languages that produced them and the liberal arts: the best that has been thought and said, and the intellectual skills that equip a student to think critically. A classical education cultivates wisdom and virtue through the study of Great Books and develops basic critical thinking skills to recognize and defend truth, beauty, and goodness.

Location

The school is located on the campus of Bethel Lutheran Church, which has adopted Gulf Coast Classical Academy as a ministry.

2024-2025 Information Overview Sheet

Meet Our Team & Faculty

Through God's awesomeness, this team was established to allow your child to obtain the education and knowledge they require and deserve.

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Head Administrator, Financial Officer

Co-Founder of GCCA

Mr. Michael Mack, MBA, MAcc

Mr. Mack is responsible for GCCA's areas of operations, including: finance, technology, infrastructure, compliance, risk management, marketing, and assists with human resources. Mr. Mack has his MBA in Advanced Finance from the University of South Florida, and his BS in Finance with a minor in Economics from the University of Florida. He is Credit Risk Certified (CRC) by the Risk Management Association and is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) through the Association of Financial Professionals. Mr. Mack also has his Executive Master of Accounting degree from Florida Atlantic University. Mr. Mack held multiple corporate banking positions over two decades. He provided cash flow and lending solutions that enabled his clients to improve margins, working capital, and ultimately the value of their company. He consulted with Owners, CEOs, CFOs, and Upper Management of companies across Tampa Bay and Southwest FL to provide optimal lending solutions for their organization's cash flow needs. He was responsible for building out the credit functions of publicly traded banks to ensure that best practices and industry standards were met. Mr. Mack also developed and implemented structured credit training and education within the banking industry. He worked with a diverse base of businesses in varying industries and brings years of knowledge and expertise that is applied to GCCA. He and his wife, Amy, have two children. Mr. Mack is the Treasurer of Bethel Lutheran Church, helps coach youth sports, and loves to go fishing when he is not busy helping GCCA grow.

Academic Coordinator

Mrs. Kathy Leone, M.A. Ed.

Mrs. Leone is responsible for the entirety of GCCA's academics. Kathy Leone has worked in the field of education since 2001. After nine years serving as a public high school teacher and administrator in New Jersey, she relocated to Florida with her family in 2010. She later spent many years as an online teacher with Florida Virtual School, and then held administrator roles at two private K-8 schools: Westlake Christian School and NorthBay Christian Academy. Additionally, she was recently added to the faculty at Veritas Scholars Academy, an online classical Christian school. Kathy holds bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania. While completing her undergraduate degree, she spent a year studying at the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain, which enabled her to achieve Spanish fluency and travel throughout western Europe. She also holds a master’s degree in Education: Administration and Supervision from New Jersey City University, as well as Florida professional certificates in the areas of Spanish and Educational Leadership. Kathy’s favorite activities include running, exercising, reading, cooking, and baking. She and her husband John live in Palm Harbor, Florida with their three daughters. They enjoy spending family time together and serving in their local church. They love hiking in the mountains and trips to the beach. Kathy has homeschooled her children as part of a hybrid classical Christian school since 2014.

Lead K-2 Teacher, Kindergarten & First Grade Teacher

Mrs. Jacqueline Pollock, B.S.

Mrs. Pollock is a Primary Grade Teacher for GCCA and has her Bachelor of Science from College of Charleston. She has years of teaching experience and actively assists with GCCA operations. Mrs. Pollock currently acts as the Lead K-2 Teacher and teaches Kindergarten and First Grade.

Second Grade Teacher

Mrs. Elizabeth Bigio, B.S.

Mrs. Bigio is a Primary Grade Teacher for GCCA. She has her Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and is currently working on her second bachelor's degree in English at the University of South Florida. Mrs. Bigio loves literature and is currently writing a novel in her pastime.

Third Grade Teacher, Music Director

Mrs. Jessica Schubert, B.A.

Mrs. Schubert graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and a K-12 Music Teaching certificate for the State of Florida. She spent two and a half years teaching choir at a magnet middle school before branching off to bring music to different aspects of the community. Mrs. Schubert teaches third grade, upper math, and music classes at Gulf Coast Classical Academy.

Fourth to Sixth Grade Teacher, Latin Teacher

Miss. Engwall

Miss Engwall is teaching classes to our fourth, fifth, and sixth graders and has been teaching at GCCA since 2021. She has extensive foreign language experience and also teaches Latin to our third through sixth graders. Miss Engwall shares her love for learning with her students and enjoys teaching the Bible through Christian Studies.

Upper Latin, Logic, Greek Teacher

Mrs. Jessica Reule, M.Ed.

Mrs. Reule graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Classics and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Reule comes to Gulf Coast with years of teaching experience in a range of subjects from Mathematics and Computer Science to Latin and Greek. She is eager to share her love for the classical model and for the Latin language. Mrs. Reule currently teaches forth form Latin for GCCA.

Latin Teacher

Mrs. Carol Eichinger, M.A.

Magistra Eichinger holds a Master of Arts Degree from the Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her Masters degree was in English, but she also attained a minor in both education and Latin. Early on she discovered English grammar was easily understood after learning the grammar of Latin. She retired from full-time teaching in 2015 and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. She began teaching Latin for Gulf Coast Classical Academy in 2018 and currently teaches second and third form Latin.

Upper Math Teacher - Algebra 2

Mrs. Mara Shelton, B.S.

Mrs. Shelton teaches Algebra 2 at GCCA. She holds her teaching degree from Milligan College in Johnson City, TN. She has extensive experience as a teacher in elementary and middle school, including the Saxon math curriculum. Mrs. Shelton has a deep desire for students to grow academically, but more importantly, to see them grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

Science Teacher

Pastor Douglas Kirk, MTS

Pastor Kirk holds a Master of Theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also has a BA in Zoology and Teaching from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Although he has retired from the Pastorate after more than 40 years, he now teaches science and biology at Gulf Coast Classical Academy. Pastor Kirk enjoys sharing his passion for studying God’s creation.

Physical Education & Karate Teacher

Mr. James Gray

Mr. James Gray teaches Physical Education at GCCA. In addition, Mr. Gray helps administer GCCA’s annual Field Day event. He has a considerable amount of experience with physical education and working with youth sports and activities. Mr. Gray taught Drum Line at two local high schools, was a YMCA Site Director, coaches a Pro Karate Competition team and has instructed at his dojo since 2012. He has worked with the youth programs at Bethel Lutheran Church since 2002 and is currently Bethel’s Youth & Family Ministry Director.

Upper Literature & Composition, Art Teacher

Mrs. Kristina Wagg, M.A.

Kristina earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Teaching in Germany and worked as English, German and Visual Art teachers at several German schools. In addition to teaching Art for GCCA, she also teaches 7th and 8th grade literature and composition. One of Kristina’s favorite things to do is to encourage her students and to remind them of how much God loves them.

Humanities Teacher, Upper Bible & History

Mr. Samuel Brewer, MDiv

Mr. Brewer holds a bachelor's degree from Clarks Summit University and a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando. He is currently licensed in his denomination to preach. Mr. Brewer believes that knowledge should be turned into understanding and wisdom for our lives. He is currently teaching Acts of the Apostles and Classical Studies II for 7th/8th grade.