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Meet the Team

Our talented, dedicated, and experienced academic team provides robust and comprehensive academic services for all students.

Sandra Anthony, Ed.D. - Executive Head of Schools

Sandra Anthony currently serves as the Executive Head of Schools.  Her expertise spans the landscape of kindergarten to high school in both brick and mortar schools and in virtual learning grounded in only the best practices of instruction, curriculum design and implementation, and assessment.  Dr. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Education and a Master’s Degree in Administration from Georgian Court University. Her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership was awarded from Nova Southeastern University in 2002.  

Melissa Stokke - Deputy Head of School

Dr. Melissa Stokke brings over twenty years of experience in education, including 12 years in online and virtual learning environments. She earned her Doctorate from Florida State University, a Master’s degree from the University of Alabama, and a Bachelor’s degree from North Central College. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about creating innovative learning experiences that support both students and educators. Her work focuses on building strong school communities, improving student outcomes, and leading with purpose and collaboration. Dr. Stokke is committed to fostering environments where all learners feel supported, challenged, and inspired to succeed.

Lori Gambino, Principal

Lori Gambino joins Virtual Preparatory Academy of Florida with over twenty-five years of experience as a proud educator.  She began her career as a high school English teacher in Maryland before taking on a high school Assistant Principal position.  After relocating back to her home state of New Jersey, she served as both middle school Assistant Principal and Principal in Freehold, NJ.   Mrs. Gambino holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Administration and Supervision from McDaniel College.  
 
As a school leader, Mrs. Gambino values and prioritizes connection throughout the school community where all stakeholders are meaningfully connected.  She works to cultivate and support a learning environment that is highly engaging for students, one that pushes them to think critically, innovate, and develop both the academic competence and the soft skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century.  A collaborative leader, she empowers her staff to create a classroom environment that is challenging and engaging, meeting students’ individual academic, social and emotional needs while taking risks and implementing student-centered instructional strategies.  
 
Mrs. Gambino and her husband recently relocated to Florida, and they and their two sons are enjoying this new chapter of their lives as Floridians.  When not busy supporting students and staff, Mrs. Gambino may be found cooking and baking, reading, walking her dog Bella, or cheering on her sons at the baseball field. 

Madison Jandrew - Assistant Principal

Madison Jandrew joins Virtual Preparatory Academy of Florida with seven years of experience in both brick-and-mortar and virtual education settings. She began her career as an Elementary Classroom Teacher before transitioning to virtual learning, where she has served as a Success Coach and MTSS Coordinator with Virtual Prep Academy of Florida. These roles have provided her with valuable insight into supporting students, staff, and families through a personalized and data-driven approach to learning. Mrs. Jandrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.

As a school leader, Mrs. Jandrew is committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive school culture. She prioritizes student and staff support through instructional excellence and a student-centered focus, while empowering educators and students to take ownership of their growth. She values transparent communication and strives to create a trusting, positive environment where everyone feels valued and connected.

Mrs. Jandrew and her husband are proud parents of two toddlers. Together, they enjoy spending time outdoors—taking long walks, boating, and going to the beach—as well as cheering on their favorite college football teams and creating lasting family memories.

Dr. Amber Goulbourn - Director of Special Programs

Dr. Amber Goulbourn now serves as the Director of Special Programs for Virtual Preparatory Academy of Florida. She started her career in Duval County as a teacher where she serviced various student populations. One of the aspects she enjoyed witnessing in the classroom setting was students reaching the “light bulb” moment once a concept “clicked”. 

Dr. Goulbourn has served as a Teacher, Instructional Coach, Testing Coordinator, MTSS Coordinator, and Assistant Principal in the elementary, middle, and high school settings. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Human Resources Management/Management Leadership, and Doctor of Education in Leadership. This year, she strives to collaborate with teachers to ensure scholars receive rigorous and quality instruction which will keep them engaged and create a joyful virtual experience.

Dr. Goulbourn resides in Northeast Florida. In conjunction with her work as an educator, she is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Florida and a financial professional who focuses on life/health insurance, debt consolidation, estate planning, and finance education. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and learning about financial literacy. 

Wendy Ross - Operations Manager

Wendy Ross serves as the Operations Manager for Virtual Preparatory Academy of Florida. Wendy is an experienced virtual leader having served as Online Program Coordinator and Principal for Medford Online Academy, Vice Principal and Teacher for Oregon Virtual Academy, and an Advanced Math Teacher. Wendy holds a master’s degree in administration, a master’s degree in Secondary Education completed at the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Southern Oregon University.

As School Operations Manager, Wendy plays an important role in developing and ensuring the day-to-day operations of our school, supporting our mission and vision to deliver quality education to students. Wendy has a broad oversight our school and works to ensure compliance with our policies and standards. She enables teachers and academic staff to focus on their primary objective to create an environment conducive to learning and growth.

Mrs. Ross resides in Central Florida with her husband and daughter. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and being creative!

Tonya Dix - ELL and Assessment Coordinator

Tonya Dix joined Virtual Preparatory Academy of Florida as the founding ELL Coordinator in August of 2022. She has now added to her role of leadership support, Assessment Coordinator and Truancy Monitor. Tonya Dix started her career as a teacher in Hillsborough County. She moved to South Florida where she continued her career as a Teacher, Behavior Specialist, Assistant Principal, and Principal in Broward County. Her experiences as an educator span over 35 years in Kindergarten through Adult Education. Tonya Dix holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Saint Leo University, a Master of Arts degree in TESOL, and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Tonya Dix resides on the Treasure Coast of Florida with her husband, Harry. They have one daughter, one son, a grandson and a dog, Zoey. When not working, she enjoys traveling, watching sports, attending comedy shows, and spending time near the water.

Samantha Perini - Coordinator of Accountability

With 12 years of experience in education, Mrs. Samantha Perini serves as the Coordinator of Accountability for Virtual Preparatory Academy of Florida. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with endorsements in Reading and ESOL. Originally from Chicago, she began teaching English in 2014 before relocating to Florida in 2018.

Throughout her career, she has taught all secondary grade levels, working with students in remedial, on-level, honors, and Advanced Placement English courses. Her diverse classroom experience and strengths in fostering strong relationships fuels her passion for supporting both students and teachers in meaningful ways.
 
In her current role, Mrs. Perini supports state testing coordination, oversees accountability systems and data analysis, and collaborates with instructional leaders to strengthen schoolwide practices. She especially enjoys helping teachers incorporate creative, outside-the-box strategies that make learning engaging and impactful. She also manages VPrep Florida’s social media, celebrating school successes and staying connected with the Shark community.
 
She resides in the Tampa area with her husband, son, daughter, and sunshine-loving husky. When she’s not working, Mrs. Perini is likely playing outside with her family, visiting Disney World, or at the baseball field.