Sometimes the course of an entire life is altered by a single conversation. A single moment. A single teacher.
Years ago, a woman approached Jeff Sandefer, co-founder of Acton Academy, during one of the school’s public exhibitions in Austin, Texas. She had traveled from Oklahoma City and found herself captivated by what she was witnessing—a school where students were confident, curious, and engaged in Socratic discussions rather than passive lectures.
“This reminds me of my 8th-grade science teacher back in Oklahoma City,” she said, a warm nostalgia lighting up her face.
Jeff listened as she described a teacher who was vibrant, who asked questions instead of giving answers, and who treated every student as capable of remarkable things. This teacher had ignited something in her—a lifelong curiosity, a belief that she could tackle big questions, and a sense that she mattered.
When she finished, Jeff quietly replied:
“Her name was Joanna Anderson, wasn’t it?”
The woman’s eyes widened in shock.
“How in the world could you have known that?”
Jeff smiled.
“Because Joanna was my wife Laura’s mother.”
And in that moment, the woman burst into tears.
Joanna Anderson hadn’t simply taught science. She had changed a life.
The Power of One Teacher
The story of Joanna Anderson isn’t just touching—it’s a powerful reminder of something we believe deeply at Acton Academy: One teacher, in one moment, can change everything.
Many people think of teaching as standing at the front of a classroom, delivering facts and managing discipline. But true teaching is something far more profound. It’s a connection. It’s an act of belief. It’s a commitment to guiding young people, not by telling them what to think, but by asking them powerful questions that spark their curiosity and help them discover who they are.
This is why the Socratic Method is at the heart of Acton Academy. Instead of lectures, guides pose real-world dilemmas. Instead of rigid answers, learners wrestle with ideas, make decisions, and experience the consequences of those choices. They become active participants in their own education.
A great teacher doesn’t just fill a child with information. They ignite a flame.
More Than Content—It’s About Calling
At Acton Academy, we believe adults play a crucial role in a child’s journey—not as authoritarians enforcing rules, but as guides helping young heroes discover their unique calling.
Every child has gifts waiting to unfold. Every learner has talents and interests that could one day change the world. But those gifts can lie dormant without someone to recognize them, nurture them, and encourage the child to step into the adventure of their own potential.
That’s what Joanna did for that 8th grader so many years ago. And that’s what guides at Acton Academy strive to do every day.
We believe that the right question can ignite a spark that lasts a lifetime.
We believe that curiosity and wonder are worth more than memorizing facts.
And we believe that one teacher, in one moment, can forever change the trajectory of a life.
Who Was Your Joanna Anderson?
Most of us have someone in our past—a teacher, coach, mentor, or guide—who saw potential in us that we didn’t yet see in ourselves. Someone who nudged us forward, challenged us, and made us believe we could do something great.
Perhaps it was the English teacher who encouraged your writing.
Or the math teacher who showed you that you were capable of solving complex problems.
Or the coach who believed in your leadership.
These are the unsung heroes who shape lives, often without ever knowing the full impact of their influence.
Today, we honor those heroes.
A Call to Action—for All of Us
At Acton Academy, we’re not just teaching academics. We’re helping young people embark on their Hero’s Journey—a quest to discover their strengths, passions, and a purpose uniquely their own.
We’re not raising children who settle. We’re raising heroes.
And heroes often begin their journey because someone—like Joanna Anderson—saw their potential and lit the path forward.
Who was the teacher who changed your life?
We’d love to hear your story. Share it with us in the comments. Let’s celebrate the guides, mentors, and teachers who believed in us and helped shape who we’ve become.
Because every child deserves to be seen as a hero in the making.
Curious how we bring this philosophy to life? Download our free info kit here.