A little bit about us
We are not here to teach your child. We’re here to inspire them to learn.
With over 300+ Acton Academies across the globe now, an interest in families like yours has been piqued. When we discovered Acton, we realized this was our chance to build the very school we had worked so hard to find, one that baked in all the things we desired for our children.
Working hard. Having Fun.
Preparing to change the world.
Our model is designed to help your child discover their gifts, develop their passions, and use them to find a calling.
Meet the Team
Acton Academy’s learner-driven community spoke to my heart the same way it does yours. I couldn’t shake it after learning about it in 2018. Four years later, my husband and I decided to make a change for our family and haven’t looked back since. The community within Acton is very supportive and driven to change the world. We are elated to bring such a powerful force to Greenville.
Carrie Turner, Owner + Guide
Carrie is the Owner and Lead Guide at Acton Academy Greenville, where her passion lies in coaching young people to discover their unique gifts and step into their full potential. She sees her role less as a traditional “teacher” and more as a coach—asking the right questions, challenging learners to think for themselves, and encouraging them to lean into struggle as the path to growth.
Her background as an entrepreneur has shaped her approach to guiding. With a bachelor’s degree in business administration (marketing and sports administration), Carrie first set out to understand small businesses never realizing it would spark her own journey of launching and running multiple ventures. Those experiences taught her resilience, creativity, and the importance of failure as a teacher. All qualities she now passes on to learners each day.
As a mom of two, she resonated deeply with Acton Academy’s philosophy: that children are far more capable than we imagine, and that they thrive when given freedom, responsibility, and meaningful work. Today, she pours that belief into coaching learners through challenges, celebrating their wins, and reminding them that every obstacle is an opportunity to grow stronger.
Carrie sees herself first as a guide, mentor, and coach. Walking alongside learners on their Hero’s Journey. Her greatest joy is watching them build courage, character, and the confidence to go out and change the world.
Jeff and Laura Sandefer, Founders
Jeff and Laura are the creators of Acton Academy, a learner-driven network of schools now spanning the globe. Together, they launched the first Acton Academy in Austin, Texas, to reimagine education for their own children — and for families everywhere who longed for something more than traditional schooling.
Jeff is a successful entrepreneur who started his first business at 16 and went on to found multiple energy companies. He also taught for over two decades at the University of Texas, where he was named one of the world’s top MBA professors. His passion lies in equipping young people to think like entrepreneurs: to solve real problems, create value, and live with integrity.
Laura is an educator, writer, and champion of childhood curiosity. Her book, Courage to Grow, tells the story of Acton Academy’s beginnings and offers an inside look at its revolutionary model. With a background in journalism and education, Laura brings a focus on storytelling, Socratic questioning, and the Hero’s Journey that shapes every Acton studio.
Together, Jeff and Laura believe that every child is a genius, destined to find a calling that will change the world. Acton Academy is their shared vision of what school can be: a place where young people develop character, critical thinking, and real-world skills through self-directed learning and meaningful work.
We exist to empower character-filled human beings for life. Our graduates will be the leaders of our future.
To inspire each person who enters our doors to find a calling that will change the world and make it a better place.
Our Mission
Our Beliefs
1. We believe each child has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.
2. We believe in a closely connected family of lifelong learners.
3. We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be be.
4. We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.
We believe clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to the right habits, the right habits lead to character and character becomes destiny.
Our Educational Philosophy
Our Promise
We promise, through Socratic guiding and experiential learning, you and your child will:
Begin a Hero's Journey
Learn to be curious, become an independent learner, and love life-long learning
Discover your most precious gifts, along with the dedication it takes to develop real talent
Understand the importance of a strong character
Cherish the arts, the wonders of the physical world, and the mystery of life
Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom
