Meet The Tutors

Alisa DeBorde

I tutor English classes, World History, and Apologetics.  From elementary to masters-level students, I have been teaching for over twenty years. I hold a BA in English Education and an MA and a PhD in Literature and Composition. I was a certified educator in the state of Florida for over twenty years and held certificates to teach English, social studies, and exceptional student education. However, my greatest qualification is successfully homeschooling my own four children. While there are certainly things I would improve if I were to homeschool them again (three are in college; one is a college graduate and teaches a DA), I would not change my decision to educate them at home for the world. What a blessing we have in sharing in the education of our children!

I began tutoring other families' homeschool students because of my passion for inspiring young Christian thinkers to do all things well! Believers can and should glorify God through academics and the arts—we should be at the front of every pursuit! I also believe that all students have God-given gifts, and education should help them discover and explore those gifts. It is my great pleasure and blessing to support the homeschooling families of DA. 

Amy Kirk

My name is Amy Kirk, and I will be teaching American History, Geography, Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology, as well as private piano.  I am a registered nurse with 11 years of experience practicing pediatric nursing. I have a degree in piano performance with over 15 years devoted to teaching piano /music. I tutor at DA because I get to help kids love learning and learn to love God more deeply. Homeschooling is rapidly becoming the premiere choice in education and can produce good outcomes for both parents and children.  I'm proud to assist families in this noble endeavor.

Heather Murias

I teach Algebra and Geometry. I love the kids at DA and I love knowing I may be relieving some moms of some of the work and organization of homeschooling. For me, homeschooling is important because as parents, we should have the right and tools needed to have more control of our children's education.  We should be able to trust they are in an environment closer to what we had when we grew up and, hopefully, even better!

Karen Wood

I teach Spanish, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 2, Finite Math, Art History and Production, 7/8 Math. At DA, I love the collaboration of godly people seeking to find Christ in the academic world. Homeschooling is important because all students don't fit into the 7-3 public school model. We must have the option to educate our children the way they learn best. 

Chera Milford

My name is Chera Milford, this will be my second year teaching at DeBorde tutorial. I love the passion and vision that this tutorial brings to the community. DeBorde allows homeschooling families to have the flexibility of homeschooling with the added assistance they need from tutors. I have homeschooled my own children for 12 years and prefer a more classical approach to teaching and learning. I ask questions that provoke thought and curiosity and we dive into answers and theories together! I believe if individuals have a longing to learn and put forth the effort, they will succeed and do well! 

I have a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and have been a bedside Labor and Delivery nurse for 18 years and an orthopedic surgery center nurse the last year. Before studying nursing, I was a Biology major and Chemistry minor. Little did I know it would all circle around 20 years later as I teach the intricacies of Chemistry to you all! 

Ash Enders

I will be teaching Physical Science, Personal Finance, Government, and Economics. We've been a part of DA for the past three years and appreciate the high level of education our kids are receiving with a Christ-centered focus. The classes I teach are passions of mine and directly align with my career and personal interests. I'm grateful for the opportunity to invest in the students and a career allows me the flexibility to be here!

I believe homeschooling is important because it enables students to learn in their learning style and at a welcome pace is invaluable. Parents are able to incorporate so much in our child's education- from the arts to our faith. Being the primary influence in your child's life in this day and age is crucial. I truly believe homeschooling is an investment that will pay eternal rewards.

Mariva DeBorde

I am a recent graduate of Gordon College. While I was there, I studied English Literature and the Old Testament. I love the Bible classes I'm teaching this fall at DA because they will help more students understand the redeeming power of God throughout the entire Bible! I also love my English classes because they help another generation of students understand proper communication and the value of literature. I am so excited to be a part of this tutorial for many reasons, but the primary one being DA's emphasis on Christ. 

Matthew Murias

I teach guitar and music theory, and have been teaching at DA for four years.  I am trained in classical, jazz, and commercial guitar, as well as drums.  I am currently pursuing my passion as a musician in Nashville, while I further my musical education through Berklee School of Music Online. I have really enjoyed working with the students at DA and every year I look forward to inspiring and training new guitar players.

Grace Anne Lofton

This year, I will teach theatre at DA. I am excited to tutor at DA because I believe using good literature (classic plays written for the stage) and disciplined acting techniques from some of the greatest modern acting instructors (Stanislavsky, Hagen, etc) can not only help students develop skills in acting, but can also help them better understand themselves, the world around them and the role God has given each one of them in this world. Homeschooling is important to me because it allows me to educate my kids from an unapologetically Christian worldview, engaging them at an early age with concerns for people all over the world and exposing them to wonderful literature and history that help them see God for who He is. Also, I am able to tailor certain work to each child’s needs while enjoying community as a family learning together. 

Katy Smith

I am a graduate from Lipscomb University with a major in business and a minor in marketing.  I have a passion for art and design.  I studied for a semester at Parson’s in New York City planning to get my master’s in architecture but motherhood took priority.  I have 7 children (two of whom we are in the process of adopting through foster care) and my oldest graduated from Deborde this last year.  She is attending Belmont University and pursuing a degree in Music Therapy.  I have two teens at Deborde now and I love the community and the social events provided.  

This is my fifth year teaching at Deborde.  Over the years I have taught different classes depending on what I want my girls to have before they launch.  I used to speak for Voice of the Martyrs and I curated a class called Prayer and Persecution where we discussed and prayed for the persecuted church and read Foxe’s book of the Martyrs and Wurmbrand.  The next year I taught Cults and World Religions, where we studied the 8 largest world religions.  Last year I taught High School Health.  This year I am teaching 7th -12th Arts and Crafts.  We will learn some basics in sewing, watercolor, sketching and lots of pinterest crafts that never seem to make it out of the saved boards!

Most of my days are busy running kids to baseball, dance, theater, music or martial arts.  I love teaching and studying God’s word and frequently lead women’s or children’s bible classes.  We have been very involved in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and our family volunteers at Thompson Station Church, where we are members.  In my very rare spare time I enjoy cooking, working out, organizing, studying history and apologetics, skiing, painting, event planning and daydreaming about opening a bed and breakfast one day.

We love Deborde and look forward to another great year where I can teach what I love and my kids can take the high school sciences with a qualified teacher so I don’t have to suffer through them a second time in my life.

Sarah Paxson

This will be my second year teaching at DeBorde Academy. I will be teaching Elementary Science, MS Science, and  Elementary Arts and Crafts.  I have been teaching in a homeschool tutorial classroom for ten years, the last five of which have been in science. Before I decided to stay home and homeschool my children, I  was a nurse in neurosurgery. I absolutely enjoy teaching and cultivating a love for learning in all of my students. My favorite part about homeschooling is meeting individual children where they are academically and helping them move toward their God-given potential. I look forward to teaching your children and working with you this year!

Jen Brown

I’m excited to be an English and Creative Writing tutor at DA and to guide your children in developing a deeper appreciation for the words they use. I adore helping others realize how much power a well-constructed thought can have. Your kids and I won’t just be regurgitating facts; rather, we will seek to understand the why behind what we are learning as we make reading, writing, and grammar (yes, even grammar!) fun. 

I also love Jesus and look forward to teaching from Scripture as we take deep dives into some of my favorite books of the Bible. 

When I’m not homeschooling my three boys, I’m ghostwriting books for influencers, primarily in the success and natural medicine spaces. I’ve authored 55+ books and love that my two main careers (ghostwriter and homeschool mom) have enabled me to continue learning every day. I also taught ACT and SAT prep for The Princeton Review and developed college-level and beyond curricula for courses across multiple disciplines.

I pray that your children will be blessed by being in my classes, and I will be blessed by their growth and contributions as well. 

Melissa Vines

Melissa Vines has been captivated by both nature and art for as long as she can remember. When she began homeschooling her children, nature journaling quickly became one of her favorite subjects to teach, using Charlotte Mason and John Muir Laws as her guides. After more than a decade of homeschooling, this will be her first year teaching nature journaling at Deborde Academy. Melissa is passionate about helping children connect deeply with God’s creation through observation and artistic expression. She hopes to inspire students to cultivate a practice that nurtures their faith and creativity for years to come.

Mandi Noland

This year I will be teaching Photography and High school Bible class. I was a certified labor and Post Partum Doula for 9 years and quickly expanded my profession to newborn and lifestyle photography. I have always had a passion for capturing moments behind the lens and can’t wait to teach some basic and helpful tools to my students. This digital photography class is a bit unique because we will not only discuss photography through the years, but I will teach the students how to apply the same skills to their smartphone cameras. In learning how to capture, edit and create these portfolios, they will be able to use what they learn for photographer opportunities and or designing online platforms or small businesses in their future. 

The Bible class will focus on applying different methods to learn how to study the Bible. Examples range from SOAP and ABIDE methods and expand to Bible verse mapping and even creating scripture art. We will explore the books of the Bible, learn the many names of God, dive into scripture and hopefully create a joy and newfound passion for your students to open and read the Word! 

Mike Menard

Michael J. Menard is an inventor, entrepreneur, and bestselling author with 14 patents to his name. The products he invented generate more than $50 billion in annual revenue worldwide. 

He served as Johnson & Johnson's first Vice President of Worldwide Engineering and went on to found GenSight, a global enterprise software company serving Fortune 100 clients including NASA, the United Nations, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson. 

Mike was an original signatory of the United Nations Global Compact on Business Ethics and is the bestselling author of A Fish in Your Ear and Corporate Transformation. His latest book, Greater Than Gravity, was launched in March of 2026. 

He lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife Emilie and their daughter, Stella. 

Emelie Menard

TBA

Haven Enders

 Hi! My name is Haven Enders! I will be teaching both of the dance movement classes this year! I am 17 years old, have been dancing for 14 years, and have trained in Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater, and Modern dance. I am a competitive dancer and have traveled to both Dallas, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, for dance competitions. I am so excited to teach your kids this semester! We are going to have so much fun!