Meet Our Faculty

Founder

Head of School 

Amanda Miller is the founder of Ordo Amoris Classical Academy.  She is also acting as head of school and lower grammar school teacher.  Amanda completed her undergraduate and master's studies in Early Childhood Special Education from Auburn University. Her classroom experience includes 8 years in the public school sector, and 10 years in classical Christian education. 

Amanda and her husband, Zach, are members of Church of the Redeemer, Fairhope (CREC).  The Lord has blessed them with four beautiful children who keep them very busy.  As a family they enjoy traveling together, so in her spare time Amanda loves to read travel books and create dream vacation itineraries.

Academic Dean

Rhetoric

Joshua Butcher has been involved in Classical Christian Education since 2010 in the roles of teacher, administrator, ex-officio board member, headmaster, parent, and lover of Western Culture. With degrees from Liberty University (BS Communication) and Texas A&M (MA Rhetoric & Public Affairs) Joshua has spent the last fifteen years unlearning and relearning what "traditional" education really is; rediscovering that the path to a good future for our children means honoring the forefathers of our past. 

Joshua, with his wife, Hannah, joined the southern Alabama community in December of 2024 along with their six children (Josiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Ezra, Evelyn, and Theodore).

Director of Operations

Music, Logic, and Writing

Rev. Daniel Murphy began his journey with classical Christian education when his family began homeschooling. His experience includes over ten years of professional work with choirs, bands, and other musical groups. His pastoral experience includes ministry with adults, teenagers, and children in Bible study, discipleship, and theological education. He has earned a B.S. in Music Industry from Troy University, and a M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Mr. Murphy also currently serves as Associate Pastor at Stapleton Baptist Church and as a military chaplain. He is married to Emily, and they have four children.

Latin, Bible,

& Humanities

Rev. Andrew Colbert has over 12 years of experience in classical Christian education. He has taught a variety of Bible, humanities, and language courses. He particularly enjoys teaching students about the richness of the Old Testament. He received his B.A. in Christian Ministries and Linguistics from Geneva College and his M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

He was ordained as a Teaching Elder in the PCA in 2020, and currently serves as the pastor of Loxley Presbyterian Church (PCA). In his spare time he enjoys time with his family and playing board games. He has been married to Sarah and they have four beautiful daughters. 

Greek

Humanities

Ethan Lafont began teaching in classical Christian environments in 2023. Mr. Lafont earned a BS in History at the University of Mobile (2020) and completed an MA in Biblical Studies at Redemption Seminary (2026). Mr. Lafont is a graduate of the Theopolis Fellows Program (2025) and works as an editor for the Theopolis Blog. Mr. Lafont has served as a pastoral intern for over three years, with a desire to enter pastoral ministry in the coming years. Mr. Lafont loves to study Biblical languages, modern theology, and biblical theology.

When he isn’t studying or reading, Mr. Lafont enjoys spending time with his wife and children outdoors and playing guitar and singing. He also enjoys working out, spending a brief time in college as a personal trainer.

Mr. Lafont was raised in a Christian home and has sought to continue pursuing the Lord in faithfulness and spiritual maturity. He married Shannon in 2020, with whom he has two children.

Science & Math

Joyce holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a concentration in General Science from the University of South Alabama and a Master of Science in Geosciences from Mississippi State University. She is recognized by the state of Alabama as a Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) in General Science.

Her teaching career began at Mountain Brook Junior High School in Mountain Brook, Alabama, where she taught 7th and 8th grade science and 9th grade health for six years. During her time there, she was honored to be named Teacher of the Year in 2005 and also enjoyed coaching junior varsity tennis.

After returning to Baldwin County, Joyce continued teaching in a variety of educational settings, including 8th grade science at Grace Fellowship Christian School under the leadership of Toni Stanton, chemistry classes for a homeschool cooperative in Robertsdale, physical science and advanced biology at Fairhope High School, and served as an 8th grade science teacher at Gulf Shores Middle School.

Joyce lives on the Bon Secour River with her fabulous family of five, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and too many ducks to count.  She treasures the time she gets to spend with her family and making memories with them.  The Fisk family loves going on vacations.  Disney World and Disney cruises are two of their favorites.  Joyce also enjoys quiet moments with Jesus, family meals, porch time with her husband while listening to all the nature sounds, bike rides with her daughter, "hanging out" with her two grown-ish sons, swimming (mostly floating) in clear pool water, exercising, decorating for Christmas, and making desserts.

She has recently discovered her love for gardening.  Her garden has veggies, fruits, herbs, flowers, and weeds.  Watching plants grow and produce fruit reminds Joyce daily of how God cares and provides for her.  

Grammar School Teacher

Elizabeth Kennedy has over 12 years experience in classical education in both the homeschool and classroom settings. She has taught a broad range of courses including science, history, geography, Bible, Latin, and grammar at all three levels of the trivium-grammar, logic, and rhetoric. She has also served in various leadership roles in classical schools.  Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and Biology from the University of Mobile.  She particularly enjoys helping students grow in wonder and appreciation for God's work in creation and his redemptive plan in history. 

Elizabeth and her husband, Shawn, have been married for 22 years and have four daughters.  They have attended Grace Community Church in Mobile for 15 years. She enjoys running, reading, and spending quality time with her big family and friends.

Grammar School Teacher

Lee Milstead has been an elementary teacher for over 28 years.  Her experience includes working in independent and classical schools in Atlanta, Birmingham, and Fairhope. Lee graduated from Auburn University in with a Bachelor's degree Early Childhood Education.  

She and her family have enjoyed living in Fairhope over 20 years.  She has been an art instructor and involved in women’s bible studies. Mars Hill Church is their church home.

Grammar School Teacher

Catherine St. Pierre  graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree Elementary Education. She taught first grade and pre kindergarten in Covington, Louisiana before moving to the Eastern Shore twenty one years ago. In recent years, Catherine has taught at Fairhope East Elementary as a reading coach and at Bayside Academy assisting in pre kindergarten, kindergarten, and reading intervention.

The St. Pierre family are active at 3 Circle Church.

Grammar School Teacher

Emily Wilson was raised with a classical education which instilled in her a love for learning as much as she can, and she has multiple years of experience teaching in a classical school setting. The Lord has sovereignly used her eclectic and multi-disciplinary background to equip her beautifully for this! Her background features such experiences as working in a leadership role at Answers in Genesis apologetics ministry, sworn police officer, ballet teacher, Biblical counselor, living history interpreter, and seminary student abroad. Emily has a Bachelor of Science in American History from Kansas State University, and she is pursuing her MTh through Union School of Theology in Wales, UK. She has a passion for vibrant and lively teaching, showing Christ's care to children, and evangelizing the lost. Her great desire is for all of her students to grow in fierce love for Christ and deep knowledge of his character.

In her free time, Emily enjoys studying the Bible, hosting people in her home, reading the Puritans, historical research/reenacting, laughter, Jane Austen, long walks, singing hymns, and doing quirky crafts.

Grammar School Teacher

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Allison earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communicative Disorders with minors in English and Psychology before beginning her career as a Speech-Language Therapist.

For many years, Mrs. Steele served children and families throughout Alabama and Florida, providing speech and language therapy in both school and private settings. Her work included helping students overcome speech and language challenges, treating stuttering and voice disorders, and supporting adult stroke survivors in regaining communication skills. In rural communities where specialized services were often difficult to access, Mrs. Steele faithfully met the needs of countless families, making a lasting impact on the lives of her students and clients.

Her heart for children and education has also been evident throughout her teaching career. Most recently, Mrs. Steele served in the Early School at Bayside Academy, teaching and assisting in Kindergarten, K4, and PreK classrooms. Through these experiences, she developed a deep appreciation for the wonder and joy of early childhood education and the importance of laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Steele has spent her life serving others. She directed the S.A.F.E. Program through Sav-a-Life for ten years, coordinating Christian volunteers who taught biblical principles and character education to students throughout public and private schools. She also served as a town councilwoman in Beatrice, Alabama, working to improve the quality of life in her community through infrastructure and development projects.