Our Staff and Faculty

Administration

Pastor Matt Herrell, M.Min.

Ministry President & Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church

Pastor Matt joined the staff of both the church and the academy in the summer of 2016. Prior to joining the ministry of Fairview Baptist Church, he and his family served in multiple capacities in many different places. Pastor Matt has a background in children’s, youth, and adult Sunday School classes, public school Bible programs, and youth ministries. He and his family also served for six years as missionaries to Peru, where he was involved in church planting, children’s homes, and an English speaking youth group. In November 2018, Fairview Baptist Church voted to make Pastor Matt the Senior Pastor and President of the academy.

Pastor Matt and his wife, Crystal, have four children: Maddie, Kyle, Lauren, and Tanner. He graduated from the Crown College of the Bible in 1996 with a bachelor of Biblical Studies. In 2021, he completed a Masters of Ministry also from Crown College.

Mr. Jon Valentin, M.B.A., M.S.

Administrator and Secondary Faculty jvalentin@fairviewchristianacademy.org

Mr. Jon Valentin started serving as the academy administrator of Fairview Christian Academy in 2025 after serving in administration at another Christian school in the Nashville area. As the son of a pastor, Mr. Valentin has spent most of his life in ministry of some form. During his time in education, Mr. Valentin has served as Student Life Director in addition to teaching English, science, and history classes.

Mr. Valentin is married and enjoys spending time with his wife, woodworking, or reading in his spare time. He is a people person with a passion for educating and discipling the next generation of Christian leaders. His life verse is Philippians 3:14 which reminds the Christian that the Christian life is a race that is only able to be accomplished through focusing on Christ.

Mr. Valentin is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College where he obtained a double major in Business Management and Marketing, an M.B.A, and most recently, his Masters of Educational Leadership. In the next few years, Mr. Valentin look forward to beginning his doctoral work as life and time allow.