Our Story

We established Acton Academy because we wholeheartedly believe in a learner-driven method of education. Our approach liberates students from the confines of traditional desks, empowering them to immerse themselves in hands-on learning experiences. This philosophy is at the core of everything we do, ensuring that each student has the freedom to explore, create, and thrive on their educational journey.

Kirsten Ring
River Clermont Academy Founder

Our Clermont Campus

River Clermont Academy is centrally located at 796 Hooks St. Clermont, FL. 34711

Our Team

Kirsten Ring

Founder - River Clermont Academy

I am a Wife , Mother, Worship Leader, co-Senior Pastor of River Clermont, and founder of Acton Academy Clermont Florida. I was born in South Africa, and came to America at the age of 5. I'm an American Citizen (sworn in at 21). Traveled the world and was homeschooled, I would help my mother with the medical treatments that my younger sister Kelly required twice a day. Kelly had a genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. We were blessed to know her for 18 years before she passed on Christmas morning. She made me obsess with the wonder of biology and inspired me by her determination, to do everything I could do, but better. She sang with 30% lung capacity. She has some Christmas songs on YouTube if you ever wanted to see it. ❤️ She is still an inspiration in my life to this day, to know that if you have enough determination, you can accomplish anything you put your focus on. My Granny Dawn was a Maria Montessori licensed owner of a Montessori school in South Africa for many years. It was my preschool when I was little. My family loves the Montessori methodology. Which led my mom to "The Courage to Grow", she begged me to find time to read it, and here we are. All that to say, I'm sold out to this system and all the experiences in my life have proven that I can do Very Hard things. I'm loving this Journey and I can't wait for our August Intake of Heroes.

Jamie Wells

Guide - River Clermont Academy  

My name is Jamie Wells and I live in Winter Garden, FL. I am a wife and a mom. My husband and I have an amazing little boy and he is the one who has inspired us to look for a different option when it comes to education. We want him to have the opportunity to find his gifts and calling and follow the path that God has prepared for him. My background is in Elementary Education. I taught kindergarten for 15 years before having my son. I taught in a public school for 7 years and then I taught in a private school for 8 years. Having spent so long in the traditional school setting, I am beyond excited to embark on this journey! I have been aware of (what I consider to be) many flaws in the educational system for a while. When I had my son, I knew I didn't want him to be in a public school and I wasn't convinced that private school was the answer either. Then I found out about Acton Academy, and I knew this was something I wanted for my own child. I am excited to provide this opportunity to not only my child but also other children in our community and I look forward to seeing our location grow as people in our community learn about what we have to offer.

Our Advisors

Jeff Sandefer

Co-Founder - Acton Academy

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

Co-Founder - Acton Academy

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."

Our Promises

We promise through Socratic guiding and experiential learning to encourage each member of our community to:

  • 1

    Begin a Hero’s Journey,

  • 2

    Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery.

  • 3

    Become a curious, independent, life-long learner.

  • 4

    Embrace the forging of a strong character.

  • 5

    Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life.

  • 6

    Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.

Acton School Guide

Our Beliefs

We believe clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to the right habits, the right habits forge character, and character determines destiny.

  • 1

    We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way;

  • 2

    We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.

  • 3

    We believe in a closely connected family of life-long learners.

  • 4

    We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.

Acton School Guide

Our Economic Model

We believe self-directed, peer-to-peer learner-driven communities built by our young Heroes will deliver transformational learning at a cost all parents can afford.