Samuel has an MBA from Hamline University, a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from UW River Falls, and an A.A. in Korean from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. After returning from his service in the U.S. Marine Corps he began to discover his entrepreneurial drive and dedication to his family in 2014. He is excited to share this ambition with the community and help the learners at Acton Academy learn to take risks, learn the value of discipline and hard work, and lean into their full potential. 

Samuel spends his free time outdoors, camping and hiking. He loves exploring new trails and cooking over a campfire with his children. During the winter months he volunteers as a coach for his daughter’s hockey team and enjoys teaching the girls and watching them grow to love the game. He currently works for 3M in Trade Compliance while serving as the co-founder of Acton Academy Hudson.

Samuel and Paula live in Roberts, Wisconsin with their four children, Nancy, Barrett, Josie and Curtis, as well as their dog, Biscotti.

Paula has a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University. She has found her calling as a stay-at-home-mom for the past seven years but has also been involved in the community teaching kids and family yoga classes, serving on the board of the Hudson Area Moms Group, and growing in faith and volunteering at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She is excited to give the learners of the Hudson community a safe space to grow at their own pace, find confidence in their abilities and follow what they are truly passionate about. She is currently a certified yoga instructor while serving as co-founder and guide for Acton Academy Hudson.

Samuel and Paula live in Roberts, Wisconsin with their four children, Nancy, Barrett, Josie and Curtis, as well as their dog, Biscotti.

Carly has spent much of her life caring for and nurturing children. With over 10 years of experience in child-care, she has proven to be a reliable and comforting caregiver. She has enjoyed sequential years of care for several families, leaving her imprint on children who have become an extension of her own family.

Carly enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard in High School. Upon discharge, she settled into caregiving as a nanny for several young families while simultaneously being a mother. Being a mother has inspired her to explore alternative approaches to education, seeking the best options for her own children. With her nurturing spirit she is committed to supporting each child’s individual hero’s journey and believes in the power of self-directed learning to foster their development and aspirations.

Her desire to see her own and other children grow in a positive atmosphere has led her to a position as an assistant guide at Acton Academy Hudson. Her comforting and assuring demeanor will enable children to excel in all aspects of education and life. She spends her free time running her local small business and exploring life with her family. Carly lives in Hudson with her husband Jesse, their two kids Damon and Vincent and their family dog, Cadence.

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.”