Who we Are

Freedom to Flourish!

At Paradise Earth Academy, we have created a joyful and holistic learning environment where students can study academics while also being supported in discovering their personal creativity, talents, and gifts.

In addition, we recognize the natural world as a remarkable source of learning and inspiration. Students at Paradise Earth Academy get to engage with nature every day through gardening, outdoor activities, earth sciences, and play.

Admin Team

Melissa Alexander

Founder / Director

For over 25 years, Melissa Alexander has answered a sacred calling in education. Her journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Illinois State University in 2000. Since then, her dedication as a classroom teacher and youth empowerment coach in Arizona has earned numerous educational leadership awards. Melissa’s career is defined by a refusal to accept the status quo when the potential of our children is at stake.

In 2020, amidst a changing educational landscape, Melissa chose to step away from the public school system and support the homeschooling community. This bold leap of faith led to the founding of Paradise Earth Academy.

Melissa envisioned and designed an educational support program to enrich the whole child. She bridged the importance of focused academics while still honoring the innate curiosity of children and their need for outdoor exploration and creative play.

Melissa’s leadership extends beyond the walls of the school. As a dedicated mother and a former host mom to international high school exchange students, she has supported and influenced the lives of children in her own home and all around the world. Her life’s work centers on empowering families to lead healthy, happy, and faith-driven lives. She stands as a beacon of modern educational leadership, proving that when we nurture a child’s spirit, we transform lives and the future.

Espi Ramirez

co-Director

Espi Ramirez is a passionate and dedicated educator with a strong commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences for her students. She is detail oriented and has a love for organization which shows in her…

Ashley Ryves

Office Manager

My education/degree is actually in the dental field – as a dental hygienist. After having kids and being a stay-at-home mom for 6 years I was ready to start working again but also wanted to stay near to my kids. Our family has been with PEA since day one and I jumped at the chance to work at the school. I have always adored children and I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be.

I love working at PEA because of the community that feels like family. I love meeting and getting to know like-minded families. I get to be right near my children, and it has been the biggest blessing for all of us.

Maggie Ramos

School office and media coordinator

Maggie is an entrepreneur with a passion for community building, wellness advocacy, and living as natural as possible. With a background in the medical field and experience as a caregiver, Maggie has always been dedicated to…

Meet the Teachers

Joanna White

Kindergarten Teacher

I just moved to Gilbert from Payson this summer. I grew up in the East Valley and all my friends and family are here. I earned my early childhood education degree from Arizona State University. My diverse background includes teaching preschool and kindergarten in both public and private schools, homeschooling my own kids, and serving as a state case manager for young children with special needs. At home, I am a proud mom to five children, ranging from 24 down to 11-year-old twins. Outside the classroom, I love celebrating the seasons, traveling to Europe, and enjoying my daily essentials: Starbucks and Taylor Swift. I look forward to a wonderful year of learning and growing together!

Norma Gutierrez

1st Grade Teacher

Hello, my name is Norma Gutierrez, and I am so excited to be joining Earth Academy as a first-grade teacher this year. I have been an elementary educator for sixteen years, teaching kindergarten through fourth grade, and I hold a master’s degree in elementary education along with an Arizona K–8 teaching certificate.

Outside of the classroom, I am a proud mom of two adult children and an incredibly happy grandmother to an energetic eight-year-old who keeps me smiling. I am also an animal lover at heart — my home is filled with four dogs, five cats, and nine chickens who bring lots of joy and personality to my days.

I am truly looking forward to a wonderful school year and can’t wait to learn, grow, and explore alongside my first graders.

Meagan Richards

2nd grade Teacher

Meagan started her career as a phlebotomist, where she loved caring for patients and being part of the hospital environment. That passion for service eventually led her to education, earning her degree in Elementary…

Antonia Ramos

3rd grade Teacher

Toni has worked in a variety of educational settings including classrooms, youth programs, church and childcare. These experiences deepened her passion for teaching, mentoring, and supporting students as they grow both academically and personally.

Toni was drawn to PEA “because of its joyful, holistic philosophy—a place where learning happens through curiosity, creativity, and connection with the natural world.” She believe every child learns best when they feel safe, seen, and supported, and her goal is to create a calm and encouraging classroom where students can learn at their own pace, build confidence, and discover their unique strengths.

Nicole Voelker

4th Grade Teacher

Hi, my name is Nicole Voelker. I’m thrilled to join Paradise Earth Academy and bring my educational and personal experience to the community. I hold a double major in communications and English, and I have homeschooled my three children from kindergarten through fourth grade.

My teaching philosophy revolves around creating a collaborative and calm classroom environment that fosters active learning and critical thinking. I believe that curiosity, wonder, reasoning, and growth should be lifelong goals, and I’m excited to meet each student right where they are to support their unique talents and strengths.

In my day-to-day life, you will find me studying the Bible, spending time with God, hanging out with my family, and playing with our two cats. Walking, hiking, and swimming are my favorite outdoor activities. The ocean is my happy place.

Michelle Forman

5th Grade teacher

Michelle has an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Mesa Community College and working on bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with Western Governors University. She is a wife and mother of one daughter…

Anita Winn

6-8th Math and Language Arts Teacher

Hello! My name is Ms. Anita and I’m beginning my second year at Paradise Earth Academy. I graduated from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, with a BA in Biological Sciences and a minor in ELA. I have been AZ state certified in mathematics since 2013. My background makes me Highly Qualified for science and English language arts as well.

I’ve taught multiple subject areas and grade levels across multiple states- my husband of 58 years was military and later a supervising aerospace engineer. Hence, we got to see a lot of the country as we followed his billets and his job assignments.

We have five offspring, 10 grandchildren, and 1 great-grand child.

My love is teaching mathematics. In school I struggled with math. Over the years that has helped me to understand not only the “how” but also the