Discover Chesterton.
Our Model of Education
Inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II, we take as our motto Cultura Vitae, the culture of life. We make it our mission to prepare our students to triumph over the materialism and despair that pervade our culture and to accept our Lord's offer to have life and have it abundantly. Our classical curriculum combines a broad liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on the cultivation of Christian virtues and an appreciation of beauty.
The Three Pillars
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We teach the classics of Western thought from physics to philosophy, and the interrelationship of the great ideas; teaching students not merely what to think but how to think.
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We help students grow in the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice, which we believe are the foundation of leadership.
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Our students come to understand and embrace the truth of why they exist: to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.
Our Patron
G.K. Chesterton
The Chesterton Schools Network is named for the great English writer and Catholic convert, G.K. Chesterton (1874- 1936). Chesterton is our school’s patron because he exemplified the Catholic faith through a life filled with joy, wonder, and gratitude.
Chesterton was considered one of the world’s most outstanding men of letters in the early 20th century. An accomplished essayist, novelist, and poet, he wrote a hundred books on all different subjects. In 1922, he shocked the literary establishment by converting to Catholicism. He was later eulogized by Pope Pius XI as “a gifted defender of the faith,” and there is presently a popular movement to have him canonized. He not only represents the fullness of faith and reason, but also Catholic joy and common sense.
The Chesterton Schools Network
We are part of the Chesterton Schools Network based in Minneapolis. An apostolate of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, the Chesterton Schools Network aims to inspire and encourage parent-led Catholic schools across the nation. The Network offers consulting services, templates for evaluating interest and operating a school, and the Chesterton Academy curriculum framework.
Board of Directors
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Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor is from St. Louis, Missouri. She studied Psychology and lived and worked in Chicago, Illinois on the business development team of a start-up tech firm as well as the implementation side of a consulting firm.
While in Chicago, she had a reversion to her Catholic Faith. She then attended Franciscan University of Steubenville where she received a Master's degree in Theology with a specialization in Catechetics. She came to Florida to work at St. Anastasia in Fort Pierce as the Director of Religious Education.
Susan is passionate about teaching the Catholic faith to adults but for the time being is enjoying homeschooling her three children. She is very happily married to Mike O'Connor and they live in Vero Beach, Florida.
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Victor Prieto
Mr. Prieto’s passion and inspiration for transforming the landscape of Catholic education in this country is the fruit of years of dedicating himself to Catholic education and finance.
After earning his MBA at Georgetown University, Mr. Prieto worked in corporate banking in Mexico, Canada and the United States. He left banking to become the Director of Finance of a Catholic religious congregation and was involved in the closing and launching of schools, as well as the transferring of schools to local independent boards. He has negotiated bank financing for Catholic schools in excess of $20 million, issued tax-exempt bonds for Catholic schools in excess of $40 million, and successfully renegotiated tax-exempt bonds and bank financings after the 2008 financial crisis.
Mr. Prieto, his wife and their four children live in New Hampshire. They are parishioners at St. Patrick’s in Newport, NH.
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Daniel Whalen
Danny Whalen received an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Elon University, and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado.
While in Denver, he was exposed to a vibrant Catholic community and saw what a profound impact it can have on one’s life and faith. The opportunity to give high schoolers in Vero a similar experience is what led him to become involved with the Chesterton Academy of Vero Beach.
Danny and his wife, Meg, and their two children live in Vero where he tends their 20 acres of land.
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Meg Whalen
Meg Whalen is a wife and mother who grew up in Vero Beach. She received her Master’s in Theology from the Augustine Institute in Colorado, while also studying illustration at Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design.
Meg co-founded the First Faith Treasury with her dear friend, Katie Warner, to make children’s books that seek to bring the beauty and truths of our faith to the littlest Catholics. She serves there as an illustrator and the Art Director.
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Dr. Mike O'Connor
Dr. Mike O'Connor is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a veterinarian, and a loving husband and devoted father of three homeschoolers.
He attended the University of Pennsylvania and worked at GE capital while living in Paris, France and London, England. Later, he studied Veterinary medicine in Dublin, Ireland and Glasgow, Scotland before relocating to Florida.
Dr. O’Connor is a devout Catholic and will attest to the life-transforming effect of daily Mass.
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Lucas Preble
Lucas Preble received his EdD from Lynn University after completing his undergraduate work at the University of Dallas. He currently serves as the Dean of Student Services at Wyoming Catholic College, where he oversees enrollment and financial aid. Dr. Preble appreciates the college's focus on community and the detox from technology that it offers. With a passion for leadership and deep care for the human person, he brings a servant leadership approach to his work.
Dr. Preble has five children and homeschools them with his wife, Maria. Outside of his professional life, Dr. Preble enjoys engaging with his children's interests and spending time with his family.
