Acton Academy Lincoln - Lincoln, Nebraska

Doug Fitzgerald

I am so excited that Acton Academy Lincoln has started up. Zach & Heidi Harsin bring an amazing amount of passion and talent in providing the parents of Lincoln, NE with an alternative schooling choice for their children.

And with Acton's philosophy of a “learner driven education” where students are responsible for leading each other, designing their own learning, and even making their own rules to govern the school ... there is no better time for this schooling option and choice to be available.

I personally know Zach & Heidi and couldn't think of a better couple to start and lay the foundation for Acton in the Lincoln community. Way To Go and I look forward to watching your growth and success for many years to come!

Gina Wertz

Our girls were doing well within the public education system however there is no comparison to the growth we’ve seen after starting Acton. Zach and the Lincoln Acton team do a fantastic job of communicating and creating a learner driven environment, that cultivates important life skills, in a fun and meaningful way! This has positively impacted, not only our kiddos, but our entire family! Can’t recommend enough!

Jens Jacobson

My wife and I learned of the Acton education model when we began researching schools for our children. We were attracted to the concept of creating an environment where children can learn to love learning, become comfortable with failing fast, and develop interpersonal/life skills. Many of these things can occur in public schools, but the Acton model is designed and intentional.

The mindset is completely different. Acton Heroes (students) take responsibility for their studio (classroom) and hold each other accountable in their learning goals. Heroes learn how to take charge of their learning and help each other in their journey. What would the community/world be like if all children were able to foster such a mindset that they are responsible for their actions and their success as well as their failures?

This session the studio is focusing on the human body, my 5 year old is beginning to learn about human cell structure, DNA, and skeletal structure. It is also a mixed age studio which allows for mentorship as well as learning how to work with kids older and younger than you. My daughter has talked to me about interpersonal struggles and we have had discussions of what she can do to get through those hard situations. This is not a school that helps kids learn their numbers and letters and calls it good. This is an environment that helps foster emotional and interpersonal intelligence in addition to book smarts.

The goal of Acton is for each Hero to find their calling and develop the skills to be successful on their life journey. They have the chance to learn about starting and running businesses. They even have a children's business fair each year where kids actually get to make a business model and put it into action. We are super excited for the growth we have seen in our little Hero and are excited for the growth that will happen in the future!

Lizelle

I am so incredibly happy that we found Acton. Every time I listen to someone that knows education talking about all the stuff that's missing from school and what is needed, I have a small inner smile at the fact that that amazing school is exactly what my kids have.

They can explore and be creative and learn. Their curiosity is encouraged, rather than squashed. They are built up and their self confidence is soaring, not because they are being babied, but because things are expected of them, and they are stepping up to the challenge.

My kids love it. Even the kid that, when he was going to a Montessori school would grumble every day about school interfering with his life, says he love it. And he feels he gets enough time to play, which is really important to me, since he is very squirmy and has a high need for movement. All while he is taking on much more responsibility and work than before.

I love all the interesting things my middle school kid is learning about. In a way that will stick. And how this incredibly shy kid presented her work at exhibition. How much she has grown in confidence. She has found a group that feels like family, where she feels she belongs. She is taking ownership of her life, and it is delightful to watch.

Bethany Fulmer

Acton’s model is perfect for preparing kids for today’s world. There’s so much included - real life application and critical thinking skills - that I wish I would have been taught in school. When I look at my peers, what sets apart the successful from unsuccessful are the intangibles like creativity, work ethic, integrity, willingness to take risks, people skills, confidence, ability to think outside the box, etc etc. These are all things that Acton fosters in kids. We chose to homeschool our kids because we wanted to instill a lot of these intangibles, but if we had an Acton location close by that would be a game changer! Plus there’s no better couple to head up this mission than Zach and Heidi!

Ann Dvorak

As an educator for 13 years and a mother of 2 school aged children, I am impressed with the learning experience that Acton Academy provides. It is the best model that I have researched to allow students to learn at their own pace, take responsibility for their own learning, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. This mindset will serve them well in any career path that they choose.

I have also had the privilege to know Zach and Heidi for many years. Both possess entrepreneurial hearts of their own. They are real world problem solvers who are consistently looking for ways to make the world around them a better place. They know the value of hard work and the value of kindness towards everyone. Acton Academy Lincoln will thrive under their guidance.

Megan Ahern

We really thought that we were going to home school our kids until we found out about this new school in Lincoln Ne. The Acton method of schooling is everything we could have wanted for our kids and so much more that we hadn’t even thought of yet. I’m so excited that we’ve found a place that encourages our kids to learn how to do and how to be, instead of focusing on regurgitating facts and testing. I would absolutely recommend Acton Academy to anyone who wants to raise their children to be independent, entrepreneurial, world changers, and I am so pleased that we have Acton as a resource for our children’s education.

Desiree Jacobson

We love Acton Academy. It has inspired our learners to be better, be more capable, and be inspired to learn. We love the mission, feeling, and environment that is here. This is the kind of learning environment we have been looking for since the kids were born. It inspires and empowers them, teaching them how to learn and how to question the world to find an answer.