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Behind the Name
Ordo Amoris is Latin for “Rightly Ordered Loves.” It first comes from St. Augustine when he wrote in the 5th century that the “order of love” (ordo amoris) is the “brief and true definition of virtue.” (The City of God- St. Augustine of Hippo).
It means this: our greatest job in raising our children is to teach them HOW to order their loves to align with what God loves. It also recognizes that education is really the business of shaping affections. |
The Sword, The Staff, & The Cap
The bottom section of the shield shows a Phrygian cap on a Liberty Pole, which is a historical symbol of freedom, behind a sword, a portrayal of sacrifice. This symbol is the heart of why we train our children in the Classical Christian model; to understand where true freedom and the meaning of sacrifice can be found.
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9:24 |
The Omega & Alpha
The Omega and Alpha in the top left of the shield are the last and first letters of the Greek Alphabet and the initial letters for Ordo Amoris.
They speak to our vision: To achieve the right end for your children, you must start with the right beginning. |
His Story
Ordo Amoris Classical (OAC) began when a group of dedicated families came together in 2019 with a desire to homeschool their children classically in community. Building on the shoulders of giants in classical Christian collaboratives who came before, OAC embarked on the adventure to help parents raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Shaping hearts and rightly ordering loves remain the core of the "why."
The Team
Mrs. Megan Shepard
Head of School Mrs. Shepard worked as a missionary for YWAM (Youth With A Mission), teaching missions in the Dominican Republic and teaching English in Thailand. She incorporates missions in her classroom through outreach to the elderly. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Liberty University. She has a love for art and designed the Ordo Amoris Classical logo. She has a passion for literature, geography, history, Bible, and organizing field trips. Favorite Verse: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28: 19-20 Favorite Quote: "The best teachers love what they love, in front of those they love." -George Grant Contact: [email protected] |
Mrs. Kristal Saneda
Grammar Instructor & Finance Mrs. Saneda began her career as a CPA and Certified Financial Planner managing investment portfolios of over $150 million in assets for 35 families at a national consulting firm. She also worked in business valuations, estate planning, and tax consulting. She currently owns a family trucking company and real estate management business with her husband where she serves as a Finance Officer. Her most important job ever has been homeschooling her three children in the classical Christian education model to bring them up in the “Paideia of God” (Eph 6:4) and to help them order their loves (Mark 12:30). Her favorite activities include singing hymns with students in the morning and hiking and biking the beautiful hills of Benzie county. Favorite Quote: “Docendo, discimus.”- Seneca. Translation: “By teaching, we learn.” Favorite Author: Rudyard Kipling |
Mrs. Suzanna Laskey
Grammar & Logic Instructor Mrs. Laskey began her lifelong love of learning as a classical dancer at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and has owned and operated three dance studios in Northern Michigan. She has a long family history of military service to our country that continues to this day. Her own military service took her to Iraq where she served as a strength and endurance trainer to deployed troops. She and her husband live on a farm with their two sons and operate a community supported agriculture (CSA) business specializing in heirloom organic vegetables. She has a love for nature and the beauty and glory of God that can be found everywhere in our world. Her enthusiasm for classical Christian education and love for the word of God are felt every day. Favorite Quote: “By holding, we become.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18 Favorite Book: Anne of Green Gables-Lucy Maude Montgomery |
Mrs. Rachel Murphy
Logic Instructor Rachael Murphy grew up in SE Michigan. She completed her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2017 and Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Education in 2010 at Grand Valley State University. Rachael began her teaching career by teaching kindergarten in Costa Rica. Upon returning to the United States she moved to Portland, Oregon where she taught at and managed two preschools. Missing family and friends, Rachael and her husband moved back to their home state of Michigan in 2013 where she taught at an alternative Christian high school in Grand Rapids, MI for four years. After that, she taught Spanish at a charter school in Grand Rapids. Two years ago Rachael fell in love with the peaceful playas (beaches) up north and moved here full time. When she’s not teaching, Rachael can be found chasing around her five and one year old outside or working in the garage on yet another house project. Favorite Quote: “Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.” |
Mrs. Tasha Jones
Administrative Assistant & Event Coordinator Mrs. Jones grew up in South Florida where she attended a conservative private school and spent her high school years being homeschooled. She has been married for twenty years and has been a stay-at-home mom for nineteen of those years. Having a passion to be involved in her children's education has led her to homeschooling with the help of Ordo Amoris Classical. Her talent and gift for planning events has helped her serve as a PTA president for eight years and now currently as Ordo Amoris Classical's event coordinator. Favorite Bible Verse: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” -2 Corinthians 5:7 Favorite Quote: “Believe you can and you're halfway there.” -Theodore Roosevelt |
Mr. Denis Rokicki
Board of Directors Mr. Rokicki hails from the Garden State but prefers the freshwater rivers and lakes of Northern Michigan. He retired from corrections at a maximum-security facility and spent time working in a pro golf shop. He now serves as a board of directors’ member with a focus on security and safety for our children. After years of working in corrections he can recognize the need for classical Christian education and its focus on virtues and character development. Denis enjoys gardening, woodworking, and fishing. He is a reminder that sometimes gentleness can come in big packages. All who know him recognize a man marked by his commitment to servant leadership. Favorite Bible Verse: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet...” -John 13: 14 |
Pastor Matt Shepherd
Board of Directors Pastor Matt has a passion for teaching Bible and history. From our first interactions, he was a kindred spirit to Ordo Amoris Classical and the classical Christian vision. He has been a guest speaker for assembly and has attended field trips. He truly has a heart for home schooling and Christian education and understands well that teaching is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Pastoral Ministries and a Master's of Divinity from Pensacola Theological Seminary. He and his wife Bekah enjoy all things Northern Michigan including gardening, hiking, and the simple gifts of God's beauty and nature. Favorite Bible Verse: “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and evermore.” -Psalm 113:2 Mentor: Dr. Karl Stelzer- Pensacola Christian College |
Mr. Nathan Saneda
Board of Directors Nathan is a homeschool dad and trucking company owner. In his daily business dealings, he sees the great need for young people of excellence who know how to learn, how to think, and how to speak. He caught the classical Christian vision when he attended his first “Repairing the Ruins” conference a few years ago. Afterwards he was struck by how well a classical Christian education fulfilled the biblical commandment upon fathers to teach their children and their future generations so they will not forget the promises of God (Psalm 78). He is witnessing firsthand how this learning model can train up young people to “not be confirmed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of their minds” Romans 12:2. In the words of Joe Rigney in Live Like a Narnian, a father’s role in their children’s education should be “First in. Last out. Laughing loudest.” Nathan’s mission is to faithfully fulfill this directive and encourage other dads to do the same. Favorite Bible Passage: James 1 Favorite Quote: "First in. Last out. Laughing Loudest." - Joe Rigney |
“I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt… I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the great gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining
the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth.”
-Martin Luther
the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth.”
-Martin Luther
