Meet the Team

Subdeacon Seraphim

Vice President, Orthodox Education Teacher

My name is Subdeacon Seraphim. I am blessed to be the husband of my wife and the father of our six children, and I serve as a subdeacon at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. I also serve as Vice President and Law of God teacher at St. John’s Orthodox Academy. As an active member of the Orthodox Church, I believe that education extends far beyond the acquisition of facts. True education is the illumination of the soul, integrating academic knowledge with spiritual and moral transformation as we grow in Christ.

I have nearly completed my Diploma in Pastoral Theology (PThD) through the Orthodox Pastoral School of the ROCOR Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest. My theological studies, combined with my experience in Orthodox education and ministry, have deepened my commitment to forming students who are grounded in the Faith while pursuing academic excellence.

My teaching philosophy follows a blended approach that balances teacher-directed instruction with active student participation. Lessons incorporate Scripture, the writings of the Holy Fathers, presentations, hands-on activities, discussion, and memorization to help students engage both their minds and their hearts. My goal is to cultivate an environment where students not only learn about the Orthodox Faith but also begin to live it more fully.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family hiking, camping, and fishing. These moments in God's creation remind me of the importance of wonder, gratitude, and spending time together.

I look forward to teaching, learning, and growing alongside our students during this exciting inaugural year of St. John’s Orthodox Academy.


Evie-Marina 

Secretary, Lead Science Teacher

My name is Evie-Marina, and I serve as the school secretary and lead science instructor. As Secretary, I manage official documentation and ensure operational excellence, providing the foundation for our academy to thrive. As an active member of the Orthodox Church, my educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that all knowledge points back to God. I strive to foster stewardship in my students by bridging academic theory with the natural world.

I hold a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Memphis, a premier national leader in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience, where my studies focused deeply on Cognitive Science and Early Childhood Development. My career includes versatile leadership across national K-12 schools, which I nurtured through working with a leading institution in educational technology, and traveled the country to help school district leaders, teachers and students integrate STEM lesson plans into classrooms. As an ISTE presenter, I have shared these instructional strategies with educators to bridge the gap between abstract concepts and creative application.

I am currently progressing through a six-year iconography apprenticeship, a rigorous artistic and spiritual journey that deeply informs my commitment to Orthodoxy in education. Outside of school, my world revolves around the beautiful permaculture farm I share with my deeply loved husband and our two precious children, who are the absolute joy of my life, alongside my baptismal brother and sister. Together, we pour our hearts into cultivating vibrant native perennials alongside an abundance of homegrown vegetables and fruits, while also breeding heritage livestock. When I'm not tending the land with my family, I enjoy reading gothic novels, crafting and playing bass guitar. I look forward to a wonderful year of learning with our students!

John-Thomas

Lead Teacher in History, English Language Arts, Martial Arts, Music Theory and Appreciation

Having started studying the Orthodox faith in the early 2020s, I started attending St. Nicholas’ Orthodox Church in August of 2022, and was catechized in the spring of 2024, being baptized into the Church in November of that same year. My core educational philosophy is to ultimately inspire my students by passing my passion for learning onto them.

In the summer of 2020, I graduated from Haywood Community College with my Associate in Arts, transferring that same year to Western Carolina University, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in English—along with a Minor in Music—in the summer of 2022. Teaching experience includes working as a substitute for the School of the Living Arts in Enka-Candler, as well as the now-defunct Deep Young Academy, teaching music and martial arts, and instructing in multiple courses at Bethel Christian Academy, first as a substitute, then as a full-time teacher in the 2024/2025 school year.

I have a hybrid style of sorts when it comes to teaching. Because no student is the same, the same style of teaching won’t be as effective across the board. Therefore, as the basics/fundamentals are established, I like to mold the curriculum to the student, as opposed to the other way around.

I love music. Be it learning instruments, teaching music, going to concerts, listening to music, or even recently joining a band, music’s been a part of my life as long as I’ve been alive, and has played a vital role in many moments of my life, and I hope I can pass on that same joy to future generations.

Each school year brings its own, unique experiences, and I look forward to getting know each student and their family over the course of this coming school year.


Amanda-Matrona

Lead Math Teacher (Grades 7-12)

My name is Amanda, and I will be teaching the Math block (grades 7-12) for the upcoming school year. I am an active member of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, where I have been attending for over three years and was baptized during Pascha in 2025. My educational philosophy is centered on the belief that every child deserves an accessible, meaningful education that encourages growth, confidence, and curiosity.

I graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina Asheville. Through my coursework, I gained experience with a wide range of mathematical topics, from foundational concepts to advanced mathematics. As a new educator, I am excited to share the world of mathematics while creating a supportive learning environment where every student can grow in confidence and understanding.

This will be my first time teaching and tutoring students, and I am eager to incorporate a student-centered approach that combines clear demonstration, direct instruction, and collaborative learning. I believe students learn best when they first see concepts modeled clearly and are then given opportunities to explore, practice, and solve problems independently or with their peers. My goal is to create a supportive environment where every student feels comfortable asking questions and growing in their mathematical understanding.

I love challenging myself to learn new things, which recently inspired a goal to pick up a new skill each month. This journey has led me to discover a wonderful variety of hobbies, including painting, drawing, ceramics making, learning a new language, and most recently, learning to play the ukulele.

I am looking forward to seeing what the upcoming school year has to offer and creating a positive, supportive classroom where students can grow, learn, and succeed together.

Lauren-Mary

Lead Math Teacher (Grades K-6)

Greetings! My name is Lauren-Mary, and I am blessed to serve as St. John’s Orthodox Academy’s K-6 Math Tutor on Wednesdays. My husband, our four children, and I were baptized at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in November 2025. These past two years we have spent immersing ourselves in Orthodoxy, and attending services at our local ROCOR parish, St. Nicholas. The core educational philosophies that resonate with me consist of a blend of traditional, classical, experiential, and practical learning, all deeply rooted in a Christ-centric, Orthodox worldview.

I graduated from Weddington High School in Weddington, NC, where I excelled in math, eventually going on to take high-level mathematics courses in college. I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Studies with an Economics minor from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, alongside a 160-hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate and a 220-hour Mind, Body, Breath, Exercise Teaching Certificate. Over the years, I have worked an array of jobs, primarily in the wellness industry and the fields of environmental restoration and education. My instructional experience includes teaching adult exercise classes, providing childcare for infants, toddlers, and young children in homes, churches, and gyms, and homeschooling our four children.

My teaching style is a blend of collaborative, integrative, and constructive approaches designed to help students reach a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts in a meaningful way. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, biking, gardening, art, spending time in nature, reading spiritual texts, and being with family, friends, and our church community. I sincerely look forward to this upcoming school year, and may God be glorified by our coming together to learn.