His Story
A group of five families came together in 2019 with a desire to homeschool their children in community. The original families include an artist, human resources trainer, musician, missionary, dance instructor, nurse, lawyer, paralegal, accountant, and trucking company owner. These diverse families had a single unified vision: a classical Christian education for children, including their own.
Ordo Amoris began with a small group of kids homeschooling in a local funeral home. They liked to say they put the "fun" in funeral. They then were graciously invited to share a church location for their first full year, permitting upgrades to create a beautiful learning environment.
Ordo Amoris began with a small group of kids homeschooling in a local funeral home. They liked to say they put the "fun" in funeral. They then were graciously invited to share a church location for their first full year, permitting upgrades to create a beautiful learning environment.
The Team
|
Mr. Jason Luyk- Logic/Rhetoric Teacher
Mr. Luyk began his calling for teaching as a human resources trainer for a major pharmaceutical company. He has worked in many facets of church ministry with students and young adults. He is a homeschooling dad and traveled the country with his family while homeschooling his two children. He is particularly gifted at teaching upper school Logic, composition, Algebra, and science. He owned a dog-sled racing team for 11 years and helped his mushing mentor train for several Iditarod races and other international races. He has a love for the outdoors, traveling to new places, history, and has a life-long love for learning, all of which are evident in his teaching and classroom.
Favorite Quote: "Raising kids is a timed event with eternal consequences. On your marks, get set, go." -Matt Whitling Favorite Bible Verse: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8 Kindred spirit mentor: Danté Contact: jhluyk@hotmail.com |
|
|
Mrs. Tricia Daugherty- Logic/Rhetoric Teacher Mrs. Daugherty has managed businesses her whole adult life, starting with her family legal practice where her husband is an attorney. She has worked as a paralegal, executive administrator, and Township Treasurer. She is a homeschool mom of five kids and now a grandma! Her loves include reading and collecting antique books and she has a library of rare and vintage books that impress antiquarians and kids alike. This love sparked her journey into Classical Christian education that burns stronger each day. She specializes in teaching high level math, science, writing, and logic.
Favorite Bible Verse: "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." - Galatians 6:9 Favorite Quote: "To whom much is given, much is required" - Luke 12:48 Kindred spirit mentor: Jane Austen Contact: triciadaugherty5@gmail.com |
|
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 Bachelors 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 Bible Verse: "And Jesus cam and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28: 18-20 Favorite Quote: "The best teachers love what they love, in front of those they love." -George Grant Favorite Book: Pages of History - Bruce Etter & Alexia Detweiler Kindred spirit mentor: Homer Contact: meg.shep86@gmail.com |
|
|
Mrs. Kristal Saneda- Latin & Math Instructor, Finance Mrs. Saneda began her career as a CPA and a 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 Kindred spirit mentor: Dorothy Sayers Contact: ksaneda@suddenservice.net |
|
Mrs. Suzanne Laskey- Grammar/Logic/Rhetoric School Science Teacher, Board of Directors
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. She teaches science classically as "natural philosophy" and continues to teach classical dance and protocol. Her enthusiasm for Classical Christian education and love for the word of God are felt every day.
Favorite Quote: "By beholding, we become." -2 Corinthians 3:18 Favorite Book: Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maude Montgomery Kindred spirit mentor: Charlotte Mason Contact: oneshapeatatime@yahoo.com |
|
|
Mrs. Heather Luyk- Music Instructor Mrs. Luyk serves in the medical industry as a clinical Nursing Instructor at Northwestern Michigan College and has worked as a Registered Nurse of Obstetrics for over 21 years. She holds a Masters of Nursing in Education. She worked for many years as a traveling nurse across the United States with her husband and two children homeschooling beside her. Her family heritage comes from the Polynesian island of Bora Bora where her native relatives live and maintain property. She has a rich tradition of music and Pacific Island culture that carries in her work and love for performance, music, and dance. She met her husband when she was five years old while together their moms directed cantatas, choirs, and church programs. She understands well that music is not a "special subject" in an education program. It is a core and a commandment: "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" -Ephesians 5:18b-20. She is honored to be on staff as the music teacher at Ordo Amoris Classical because she sees the beauty and truth in music as a gift for us to glorify and praise God.
Favorite Bible Verse: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 Contact: jhluyk@hotmail.com |
|
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 also 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 is able to recognize the need for Classical Christian Education and its focus on virtues and character development. Denis enjoys gardening, woodworking, and fishing. He’s 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 Contact: droki72@yahoo.com |
|
Mr. Matt Shepherd- Greek Instructor, Board of Directors
Mr. Shepherd has a passion for teaching Bible and History. From our first interactions, he was a kindred spirit to Ordo Amoris and the classical Christian vision. He has been a guest speaker for assembly and has attended field trips. He truly has a heart for homeschooling and Christian education and understands well that teaching is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire. He joins OAC this year teaching Biblical Greek and serving as a pastoral presence and mentor to our families. He holds a bachelor degree from Pensacola Christian College. 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 |
|
“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
We love our donors! Help OAC in its mission to teach confidence and beauty in homeschooling.
Ordo Amoris Classical is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donors may deduct contributions made under IRC Section 170 as allowed by law.
Ordo Amoris Classical is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donors may deduct contributions made under IRC Section 170 as allowed by law.
