The future of the fast-growing Acton Academy network, with Jake Thompson
Feb 14, 2025
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Jake Thompson, founder of Heroes Academy and leader of the Acton Academy network, shares his journey from finance to education. He emphasizes the importance of authentic learning, which fuels creativity and entrepreneurship in students. Thompson discusses his experiences founding an academy in Boise and highlights the transformative impact on children and families. He explores the challenges of educational entrepreneurship while stressing the need for passion and a meaningful calling. The conversation also includes resources for future founders in the innovative educational landscape.
Jake Thompson's shift from financial services to education underscores a profound search for fulfillment through meaningful engagements with young learners.
The Acton Academy model highlights an educational revolution prioritizing learner-driven experiences that equip students with essential real-world skills and resilience.
Deep dives
The Journey to Education Entrepreneurship
Jake Thompson's transition from a successful career in financial services to education entrepreneurship highlights his evolving sense of fulfillment and purpose. Initially thriving in his financial role and gaining recognition through a best-selling book, he felt a deeper calling to pursue meaningful engagement in education. This led him to the Acton School of Business, where he experienced a transformative approach to learning that emphasized real-world challenges and personal growth. Inspired by the Acton Academy model, he and his wife ultimately decided to create their own Acton Academy in Boise, recognizing the need for a learning environment that genuinely nurtured young people's capabilities.
Acton Academy's Unique Approach
The Acton Academy model is centered on the belief that every child is a genius, deserving the opportunity to find a calling that can change the world. Rather than following conventional education methods filled with tests and grades, students engage in hands-on experiences that teach them skills relevant to real life, such as creating businesses and resolving conflicts. This learner-driven approach cultivates resilience as students face challenges and learn to take responsibility for their education. Thompson's observations of children thriving in this environment reinforced his conviction that young learners can achieve significant personal development when provided with the right support and resources.
The Demand for Innovative Education
The growing interest in the Acton Academy model reflects a broader shift among parents who seek an educational system that aligns with their children's unique gifts and encourages autonomy. Acton Academy has seen an influx of families who are willing to relocate in pursuit of this personalized learning experience. Thompson emphasized that the journey at Acton is designed to be challenging, with struggles viewed as critical components of the hero's journey, ultimately fostering personal growth and resilience in students. Parents are increasingly drawn to this model because it prepares children for the complexities of the real world and equips them with essential life skills.
Leading the Acton Network's Future
As the head of the Acton Academy network, Thompson is tasked with overseeing the expansion of an educational movement that emphasizes learner independence and entrepreneurial spirit. The network operates on a model where parent entrepreneurs drive the establishment of new campuses, ensuring that those involved share a genuine commitment to the mission. While there is a goal of expanding to over a thousand campuses, Thompson highlights the importance of maintaining core beliefs about education amid changing landscapes. The focus remains on how to serve young people better, addressing their needs while preserving the foundational values of the Acton Academy model.
Jake Thompson is the founder of Heroes Academy, an Acton Academy in Boise, Idaho that he opened in 2016. Jake is also now the head of the entire Acton Academy network, which includes over 300 learner-driven schools serving thousands of students worldwide.
Check out Kerry's LiberatED interview with Acton Academy network cofounder, Jeff Sandefer.
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