Advisory Board

Liz Darnell founded The Rock Academy in 2009 in Sanford FL, served as principal from 2009- 2021, and is currently a part of the administrative team and guidance counselor. She is one of the original board members of the FCCPSA, a Florida accrediting agency where she held the post of secretary for more than 20 years. In 2020 she, along with Michael Phillips and Jim Lawson, established The Vineyard Education Group to help private Christian schools build strong and functional foundations based on a school’s vision and mission. Through Vineyard, Liz works to develop operational and training materials for schools giving them the tools they need to reach their goals. She is passionate about the partnership of families and schools and the importance of imparting to students their potential in Christ. 

G.K. Chesterton once said, “Education is not a subject, nor does it deal in subjects. It is instead a transfer of a way of life.” In full agreement with Chesterton’s sentiment, the Vineyard Education Group provides an education paradigm that is not merely interested in a downloading of information into the minds of students but providing a comprehensive and robust program shaping how a student lives in and interacts with this world. Vineyard Education Group is committed to cultivating virtuous scholars, serious, and academically grounded students who love God and who love the world he has created. Vineyard Education Group was organized for the purpose of seeing this particularly ambitious approach to education actualized throughout the world.

In order to achieve this goal, Vineyard Education Group has prioritized several strategic areas to help schools flourish. There are many good and healthy schools. Yet, even the best administrators, teachers, and parents acknowledge that there is always room to grow in knowledge, resources, and guidance. Vineyard Education Group provides consultation and training services, administrative and teaching resources, as well as student guidance programs to ensure that each school is meeting accreditation and state standards.

For decades, each director of Vineyard Education Group has opened private schools, acted as professional education consultants, and served on accreditations boards at the highest levels. Their combined experiences in education, administration, teaching, law, and accreditation has made Vineyard Education Group the most unique and qualified organization to help navigate the waters of private school education. Whether you are starting a school from scratch, an established school seeking to become accreditation ready, in need of consultation and professional development, or desiring administrative and student guidance help, Vineyard Education Group is here to serve and meet your needs.

R. Patrick Phillips is in private law practice in Orlando, Florida.  He received his B.S. degree in economics in 1966 from the University of Florida.  After graduation, he entered the United States Air Force and flew C-7A Caribou aircraft in all areas of Southeast Asia including 850 combat hours in Vietnam.  Later, while flying as an Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot on Lockheed C-141 Starlifter Aircraft, he flew in virtually every nation in the free world.  He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve Retired.  He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating, a current FAA flight and ground instructor certificate for both single and multi-engine airplanes and instrument, an FAA Airframe & Powerplant mechanic's certificate, and an unlimited ground level aerobatic waiver.

Mr. Phillips received his J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1975.  He has been intensively engaged in the practice of law in all areas of civil and criminal litigation in all federal and state courts.  He is a founding member of the National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association (recently changed to International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association), and has represented numerous professional pilots, mechanics, aircraft operators, charter services, flight schools and fixed base operators before the FAA and National Transportation Board Administrative Law Judges.  The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory has given Mr. Phillips its highest rating, AV, and is recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer. He is a regular presenter at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flight Instructor Refresher Course and other aviation related seminars sponsored by institutions of higher education.  Mr. Phillips is Florida Bar Board Certified in Aviation Law and an AOPA Panel Attorney. He is past Co-Chair of the EAA Legal Advisory Counsel, EAA Government Relations Committee, Board Member of Orlando Youth Aviation Center, The Rotary Club of Orlando, Sun ’n Fun Fly In, Inc., and a member and past Chairman of the Florida Bar Aviation Law Board Certification Committee. He sat as a member of the Orlando-Orange County Airport Zoning Board of Adjustments, West Orange Airport Authority.