Sarah McCullough-Ferguson

Founder

Hello, I’m Sarah McCullough-Ferguson and I am fortunate to be the mother of 3 creative, vibrant and caring children, and grateful to be the wife of an ambitious and loving husband. Together we live on a 50-acre certified-organic farm set in the rolling hills of Martintown, Ontario where we grow garlic and enjoy every second of country living.

Growing up surrounded by a family of teachers and principals, I too became passionate about helping children discover the world around them. I also pursued education, and for the past 15 years have joyously taught both in French and English for public school boards in Kingston, Toronto, Whitehorse and the Cornwall area.

Throughout my career, I have followed my interests and have sought continuing education opportunities in Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and Outdoor and Experiential education. No matter the type of education, I love seeing the light in children’s eyes and the fire in their souls when they are empowered and guiding their own learning, truly following their interests and curiosities.

I have out-grown the traditional model of our public education system, and am ready to bring something completely new to our community. Through a series of synchronicities, a friend of mine mentioned Acton Academy to me, and I was reminded of having discovered it before. In an instant I knew this was the right path for me at the right time. I am so proud to be a part of a proven network of learner-driven micro-schools, founded by educators, innovators, entrepreneurs, and parents that is facilitating world changing education. Watch this video to see if this is the right path for you and your family too

Jeff Sandefer

Advisor and Acton Academy Co-Founder

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 Sandefer

Advisor and Acton Academy Co-Founder

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."