About Us
What We Do
Building a Supportive, Christ-Centered Community for Every Homeschooling Family
Our goal is to provide encouragement and social support to homeschooling families of all faiths in a Christian setting, to promote entrance and confidence in homeschooling, to facilitate access to celebratory events, extracurricular programming and community service opportunities for school aged members.
We welcome families of all religions, sizes and backgrounds and pride ourselves on our growing diversity as being representative of the changing sociocultural dynamics of the homeschooling movement. PPEA strives to build a strong and vibrant homeschool community through offering opportunities for connection, collaboration, and mutual support among families.
How We Started
Connecting and Empowering Pinellas County Homeschool Families for Nearly Four Decades
Pinellas Parent Educators Association (PPEA) was started in 1985 by a group of homeschooling parents. PPEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run solely by volunteers for homeschooling families with children of all ages, living in and around Pinellas County Florida.
Your Leadership Team
Neisha Promisco
Co-Chair
Neisha Promisco has been homeschooling her three children, Luciana, Dominic, and Luca, since the very beginning of their educational journey. What started as a leap of faith has grown into a passion for encouraging and supporting other homeschooling families. Her oldest daughter is a proud homeschool graduate who earned her Associate of Arts degree through dual enrollment before graduating high school and is now continuing her education at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. After relocating to Pinellas County in 2021, Neisha and her family quickly found a home within the local homeschool community. Prior to moving to Florida, she founded a homeschool group that brought families together through weekly park days, field trips, and community events, reflecting her heart for creating meaningful connections among homeschooling families. Today, Neisha serves as Chair of the Chosen Advisory Council at Chosen Co-op, where her sons attend classes and where she also teaches. She is passionate about hands on learning and creating engaging educational experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence. In addition to her work in homeschooling, Neisha is pursuing a lifelong dream by opening Hello Artist, a family friendly art studio in Seminole. Through the studio, she hopes to provide a welcoming space where families can gather, create, and build lasting memories together. When she's not planning homeschool events or teaching, Neisha enjoys spending time with her family exploring Florida, visiting the beach, traveling, playing board games, tending her garden, caring for their backyard chickens, and studying God's Word. As Chair of the Pinellas Parent Educators Association (PPEA), Neisha is honored to serve the homeschool community by creating opportunities for families to connect, build lasting friendships, and make meaningful memories together. She is excited about the future of PPEA and looks forward to helping families thrive throughout their homeschooling journey.
Joanne Sastamoinen
Co-Chair
Joanne Sastamoinen has been a resident of Pinellas County, in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the past 23 years, along with her husband, Gary. Together, they have seven children: Carly (22), Lucius (17), Aidan (17), Addison (15), Gracie (14), Damien (14), and Ian (13). For seven years, the Sastamoinen family embraced a unique lifestyle, homeschooling their children while traveling across the United States in a 5th wheel RV. This hands-on approach allowed them to experience American history and geography firsthand, walking the streets of the very places they studied. The family has now been living full-time in their home for the past year and is actively involved in the local community. They attend Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg and are members of the Chosen Homeschool Co-Op, where Joanne will be teaching classes this year. They have also recently joined the Classical Conversations community, marking a new chapter in their educational journey. Four of their children continue to be homeschooled, while two have opted to return to traditional school settings—each thriving in their respective environments. Originally from England, Joanne has lived in the United States for 34 years and is a naturalized American citizen. She is also a Registered Nurse, working in various local emergency rooms throughout the area. Joanne looks forward to contributing to the PPEA community in the years to come.
Lauren Stockard
Web Technology / Marketing
Lauren and her family have lived in Pinellas County since 2019. She has been married to Nate since 2006, and they have two homeschooled children – Skye (17) and Savannah (12). They began their homeschool journey during COVID in 2020 and love being part of the homeschool community. Her daughters are active in local co-ops, theater, and synchronized swimming. Professionally, she owns two businesses – Blue Atlas Marketing and Escape FLA. Lauren enjoys giving back to the community that she loves so much. She is looking forward to being able to help market and grow PPEA.
Code of Conduct
PPEA Code of Conduct
PPEA is dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment at all events. We expect all students, parents, and guests to act with kindness, courtesy, and integrity so that everyone can enjoy a positive experience.
The following are strictly prohibited at PPEA events:
● Alcohol, tobacco, vaping, illegal drugs
● Weapons, knives, or any dangerous items
● Offensive language, cursing, or inappropriate gestures
● Rowdy, aggressive, or disruptive behavior
● Fighting, bullying, or harassment of any kind
● Disrespectful or intimidating conduct toward students, parents, committee members, or volunteers
Any violation will result in an immediate request to leave the event. Repeat violations may lead to permanent removal from PPEA without refund.