We want something better for our own children! Finding the Acton model has led to a paradigm shift for us because of Acton’s deep respect for the learning process. This innovative process recognizes that 'schooling' is something imposed on someone, while 'learning' is a process that is chosen. The learning process, when treated this way, is an inspiring, irresistible invitation.
We believe Acton provides a place where learners are encouraged to question, explore and experiment. They have the opportunity to make real-life decisions, face consequences and build character in order to prepare for life. We are opening Inspire: An Acton Academy as a gift to our family, and community.
Come join us for a Hero’s journey!
Location details coming soon, stay tuned!
I am passionate about the pursuit of health, growth, and learning. My experience includes utilizing my BA in education to teach in public school for 7 years, homeschooling my own children for 16 years, teaching in several co-op and hybrid settings, and most recently becoming a certified Montessori assistant.
I am so excited to have found the Acton model of learning, and since there is not an Acton in my area, I’m partnering with my best friend to open one. Come join us for a Hero’s Journey!
I am thrilled to be part of building an excellent school for my daughter and for our community. Like our heroes, I am on an adventurous life journey which includes valuing my family, a healthy lifestyle, and my community. I was struck by the Acton story when I first witnessed how successful this revolutionary educational model has been at preparing students to take their place in the world.
My goal for Inspire is to bring my enthusiasm and also my 17 years of professional experience as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) where I have built and maintained high standards of excellence in the workplace.
Jeff Sandefer lives a dual life as an entrepreneur and a Socratic Guide. As an entrepreneur, he founded his first company at age 16 and went on to found or co-found seven successful businesses. As a Socratic teacher at the University of Texas, Jeff’s students five times voted him the school’s Outstanding Teacher and Businessweek named him one of the top Entrepreneurship professors in America.
Jeff went on to co-found the Acton School of Business, an MBA program perennially ranked by the Princeton Review among the best in the nation. In 2012 The Economist honored him as one of the top fifteen Business School professors in the world.
Jeff is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, where he served for over twenty years on the school’s governing committees. He was a longtime director of the Philanthropy Roundtable and National Review magazine and one of the youngest members ever elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
Laura lived on both US coasts and in between as a child, then settled into Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Science. After being awarded the highly competitive Walter Wattles Fellowship at Lloyd’s of London, Laura worked in the aviation insurance industry in New York City.
Deciding to follow her calling into the world of education, Laura returned to Nashville and earned her Master of Education at Peabody College. This led her to her work at the Oklahoma Arts Institute, creating fine arts education programs for teachers and talented high school students.
Laura married Jeff Sandefer and is the happy mother of Sam and Charlie and step-mother to Taite. It is the inspiration of these children that led Laura and Jeff to co-found Acton Academy.
Her greatest hero is her mother who was a Master Teacher. Her wisest mentor is her father who sent her off to college with two words of advice: "Be curious."
Begin a Hero’s Journey,
Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery.
Become a curious, independent, life-long learner.
Embrace the forging of a strong character.
Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life.
Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.
We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.
We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
We believe in a closely connected family of life-long learners.
We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.
