Board of Trustees
Garden State Classical Academy
Garden State Classical Academy is governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees composed of leaders in education, business, law, ministry, and community service. The Board safeguards the Academy’s mission, provides strategic oversight, and ensures responsible stewardship of the school’s resources as the institution grows.
United by a shared commitment to Christian faith, academic excellence, and the enduring tradition of classical education, the Board works to ensure that Garden State Classical Academy forms students in wisdom, virtue, and a lifelong love of learning.
Governance & Stewardship
The Board of Trustees serves as the governing body of Garden State Classical Academy. Working in close partnership with school leadership, the Board is responsible for safeguarding the Academy's mission and ensuring the institution's long-term health.
Key responsibilities include:
• Upholding the Christian mission and classical educational philosophy of the school
• Providing strategic direction for the Academy’s growth and development
• Exercising fiduciary oversight and responsible stewardship of financial resources
• Supporting philanthropic initiatives that expand the school’s impact
• Preserving the institutional integrity of the Academy for future generations
Through this work, the Board ensures that Garden State Classical Academy remains faithful to its founding vision while building a strong and sustainable future for its students and families.
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Melanie Collette
Board President | Education Policy & Public Leadership
Melanie serves as Board President and has been involved with Garden State Classical Academy since its founding, previously serving as Board Secretary. She brings experience as a former educator, County Commissioner, and Senior Policy Analyst, and regularly appears as a television and radio commentator on education and public policy. Melanie is committed to advancing classical education rooted in academic excellence, moral clarity, and the enduring principles that cultivate thoughtful and virtuous leaders.
Camillo Santomero
Treasurer | Private Equity & Real Estate Investment
Camillo Santomero is the Managing General Partner of Guard Hill Holdings, a private equity investment firm where he has been a private equity investor since 1983. Guard Hill Holdings has invested its partners' personal capital in more than 40 private equity transactions, primarily in industrial manufacturing companies. He is also a co-owner of Lordae LLC, a family real estate business that owns and operates more than one hundred commercial properties across the New York and Connecticut.
Mr. Santomero holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Jan Blanton
Trustee | Educator & Church Music Director
Jan Blanton is a retired public school art educator who earned a BA from Monmouth University after studying at the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts. She currently serves as the traditional music coordinator and organist/director at Manasquan First Presbyterian Church.
Raised in Oklahoma in a family that emphasized faith, patriotism, culture, and educational excellence, Jan is a passionate supporter of educational initiatives that help students flourish. Her interests include music, art, philanthropy, and playing bridge.
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Barbara Hrebek
Trustee | Attorney & Former Educator
Barbara is a lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore and a member of Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. She brings experience as both a former educator and a practicing attorney. Barbara strongly values the work of Garden State Classical Academy and believes its mission plays an important role in helping young people grow into responsible and productive members of society through strong intellectual and moral formation.
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Brian Poppen
Trustee | Infrastructure Development & Parent
Brian Poppen is a local business owner and parent in the Garden State Classical Academy community. He works in renewable energy and infrastructure development, with professional experience in finance, operations, and project management. Brian is committed to supporting the Academy’s Christian academic mission and ensuring responsible stewardship of resources for the benefit of students and families. He lives locally with his family and values being actively involved in the life of the school community.
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John Kitrick
Trustee | Business & Hospitality Entrepreneur
After attending Seton Hall University, John began his career in finance, trading commodities on the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Following more than 20 years in commodity trading, he retired from the exchange and began a new chapter as a small business owner. He is currently a partner in a restaurant group that owns and operates multiple locations throughout New Jersey. John brings business experience and practical leadership to his role supporting the mission and growth of Garden State Classical Academy.