Find a Calling ᐧ Change the World
Find a Calling ᐧ Change the World
We are a private school affiliate of the Acton Academy network.
Acton Academy is part of a growing trend of small schools that offers a fresh approach to education. It is school reimagined for the 21st century. There are more than 300 Acton Academies around the world. Learn more about the revolution here.
Pam Coleman of Charleston, SC retired to the salt marshes of the Lowcountry in 2017. Pam and her husband are devoted to their granddaughter, whose well-being and education are of foremost importance. It soon became apparent to Pam and her daughter that modern education has not changed to meet the needs of the 21st century. Pam’s passion for learning ignited her search for innovative methods and schools. At last, she discovered Acton Academy and was thrilled by the model’s focus on child-motivated learning, character development and real-world skill-building. Since Charleston didn’t have an Acton Academy, Pam chose to open Acton Academy Charleston for her granddaughter and for the families in her community.
Ms. Pam, Founder & Creativity Collaborator
After college, Pam worked in educational sales until earning an MBA in Marketing from New York University. She then managed classical musicians until choosing to stay home with her young children. Having always wanted to be a teacher, she went back to school for an MS in Education and taught in both public and private schools in Connecticut. Once she found that administrators believe that testing is more important than the joy of learning, she left schooling to become an historic interpreter. Over time, she served on five not-for-profit Boards of Directors with organizations focused on music, history and education. During her 14 years with the Stamford History Center, she served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, organizer of many fundraisers, supervisor of employees, writer of newsletters and press releases, and liaison to the City of Stamford in a project to relocate and restore the oldest residence in the city.
Tricia’s career began with a degree in Business Administration from Grand Valley State University in Western Michigan. She worked in the private sector for 5 years before making the decision to stay at home to raise her two young sons. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Tricia then launched a home-based business and managed a sales team of fifteen people. When her family relocated to the Charleston area, Tricia found her calling in working with children from 5-8 years old. She earned her M.A. in Teaching from Liberty University and for more than 15 years has dedicated herself to teaching young children in public school, private preschool, church schools and camps. She is passionate about helping young children embrace a growth mindset, become problem-solvers and discover their gifts and purpose. Tricia has always had a fascination with the outdoors and spending time by the water, especially fishing and boating alongside her husband and sons. She enjoys homesteading and natural living (she and her husband raise chickens), reading, and spending time with her two adult entrepreneurial sons.
Ms. Tricia, Discover Guide
Ms. Chelsi, Explore Guide
Chelsi is truly a lifelong learner. After high school, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice at Quincy College, and she even earned her Cosmetology license. Ms. Chelsi worked as an Assistant Manager for an international firm for many years. She relocated to Charleston in 2018. When needing to reenter the workforce, she became an independent cleaning contractor and an Inventory Auditor.
Ms. Chelsi knew she had found her calling when she secured the Guide position at Acton Academy Charleston. Her passion and desire to help children figure out who they are and grow through trials and tribulations is her fuel and it will be her greatest adventure. She is especially excited for her two children to attend the school where she works!
In her free time, Chelsi and her family enjoy catching the waves at the beach, visiting animals at the zoo, or exploring Charleston.
Laura is cofounder and head of school of Acton Academy (Austin). Raised by a science teacher and minister, Laura lived on both coasts and in between as a child and then landed at Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Science. After working in London and New York City in the aviation insurance business, Laura yearned to follow her heart into the world of teaching.
She went back to Vanderbilt’s renowned Peabody College and received her Master of Education. This led her to work in arts education at the Oklahoma Arts Institute. Laura later married Jeff and has two sons and a stepdaughter. It is the inspiration of these children that led Laura and Jeff to cofound Acton Academy. Her greatest hero is her beloved late mother, who was a master teacher as none other. Her wisest mentor is her father, who sent her off to college with two words of advice: “Be curious.”
Jeff is an entrepreneur and a Socratic teacher. As an entrepreneur who most recently sold Sandefer Capital, an energy investment firm with several billion dollars in assets. He cofounded the Acton School of Business, a school dedicated to America’s next generation of principled entrepreneurs and famous for its 100-hour work weeks. The Princeton Review has consistently ranked Acton’s teachers, students, and program among the best in the country.
While at the University of Texas, Jeff’s students voted him the school’s Most Outstanding Teacher five times, and he was named by Businessweek as one of the top entrepreneurship professors in America. He also cofounded Acton Academy (Austin), where he is a middle school lead guide. Jeff has been a longtime board member of National Review, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, The Philanthropy Roundtable, and the Harvard Business School and is one of the youngest members ever elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
CoFounder of The Acton School of Business, at the University of Texas
We respect each child as a unique individual with great potential. Our curriculum utilizes hands-on Montessori materials, peer learning, and adaptive online programs for self-paced development of language and math skills.
Consider a Career with Acton Academy!
Acton Academy Charleston
2142 Executive Hall Rd.
Charleston, SC 29407
