Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Nunez.
Michelle Nunez is the proud Principal and CEO of Galileo School for Gifted Learning. After serving 9 years as a high school teacher, Michelle entered school administration, serving as a middle school dean and assistant principal in Seminole County, Florida. In 2012, Michelle applied for and won her dream job as an elementary school principal at Galileo School for Gifted Learning. At that time, Galileo was a very small and new public charter school with just over one hundred students and nine classroom teachers. Under Michelle’s leadership, Galileo grew from a small elementary school to become an A-rated K-8 School of Excellence, recognized by the Florida Department of Education, with 590 students and a strong waiting list.
In the year 2020, Galileo expanded due to strong demand and built Galileo School for Gifted Learning – Skyway, welcoming an additional 766 students to the Galileo School Model. Under Michelle’s leadership, Galileo has received local, state, and national recognition, including the American Psychological Association’s Golden Psi Award, the 2023 Building Hope Impact Award for Student Empowerment, and Playground Magazine’s Family Favorite Award Winner – Public Elementary School from 2016 to 2022. This year, Galileo earned The Gold Award for Best Middle School, Gold for Best Charter School, and Bronze for the Best Elementary School in the Central Florida Favorites competition. Galileo has expanded its reach to serve nearly 1400 students in grades PreK-8th grade in Seminole County, between the two school sites. In 2026, Galileo will open it’s doors to the Galileo Early Learning Center in an effort to provide an amazing early learning experience to the staff children and siblings of Galileo students.
Michelle completed all of her higher education at the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a teaching certification in Social Sciences grades 6-12, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Michelle resides in Orlando with her husband, Frank, and four children: Madelyn, Alina, Tyler, and Jacob.
Long distance running is Michelle’s passion! In 2018, after 25 years of local road races, including countless marathons, Michelle and her husband participated in their first Ironman Triathlon and Michelle got hooked. In 2022, she qualified for the Kona Ironman World Championship, a true dream for triathletes. This year, she will was invited to return again to compete in the 2025 Kona Ironman World Championships and she is currently training in all of her spare time when her family is sleeping.
Michelle and her husband, Frank are high school sweethearts and have been married for 29 years. They have four children and one grandchild. They were also honored to host five foster children in their home. Being foster parents was a rewarding and challenging experience that impacted the entire Nunez Family in a positive way.
Michelle’s son, Jacob, has Down Syndrome. He has the most energy of all in the Nunez House and is seen as the most entertaining member of the family. Michelle can talk for days about the joy that children with Down Syndrome bring to the world and serves as an advocate to others who have children with special needs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a foster parent was not easy, but was very rewarding. The foster care system is very challenging!
Having a child with special needs brings constant struggles, Jacob is a bright spot in our world and truly a daymaker, but also requires us to think outside of the box and approach parenting very differently from our other children. We know it is a long road ahead of us to support him as he grows and consider his desires for independence, even when we know he is not quite ready to be as independent as he would like.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Galileo School for Gifted Learning?
Galileo School for Gifted Learning
The Galileo School for Gifted Learning provides innovative, research-based
education in a nurturing environment for gifted and talented students and those
who want to learn in a gifted learning environment that will challenge and
motivate them to pursue their passionate interests in service to others.
The goal of the Galileo School for Gifted Learning is to engage our students
through an integrated curriculum using science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) content while simultaneously providing them with the
guidance to see its applications and purpose through history, literature, and the
arts; thereby producing our country’s next generation of independent thinkers.
In the year 2011, Galileo was a very small and new public charter school with just over one hundred students and nine classroom teachers. Galileo grew from a small elementary school to become an A-rated K-8 School of Excellence, recognized by the Florida Department of Education, with 590 students and a strong waiting list.
In the year 2020, Galileo expanded due to strong demand and built Galileo School for Gifted Learning – Skyway, welcoming an additional 766 students to the Galileo School Model. Under Michelle’s leadership, Galileo has received local, state, and national recognition, including the American Psychological Association’s Golden Psi Award, the 2023 Building Hope Impact Award for Student Empowerment, and Playground Magazine’s Family Favorite Award Winner – Public Elementary School from 2016 to 2022. This year, Galileo earned The Gold Award for Best Middle School, Gold for Best Charter School, and Bronze for the Best Elementary School in the Central Florida Favorites competition. Galileo has expanded its reach to serve nearly 1400 students in grades PreK-8th grade in Seminole County, between the two school sites. In 2026, Galileo will open it’s doors to the Galileo Early Learning Center in an effort to provide an amazing early learning experience to the staff children and siblings of Galileo students.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Despite the fact that I spend a great deal of time in the spotlight as the Principal and CEO, I actually do not love being on stage. I am an introvert and a bit of a homebody.
I am proud to have a husband that served in the United States Marine Corps and two children who currently serve in the United States Marine Corps. A small part of me wishes that I would have also joined the military. There is truly something so special about our US Troops and I am proud to have a so many Marines in my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.galileogiftedschool.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nunezmls
