A Letter from the Founders

Hello.

We are parents. We are educators. We’ve found something special in Acton — and we built our school around it.

We didn’t set out to start a school. We just wanted to find the right one for our daughter.

The search took us somewhere unexpected. After reading a book on education for the 21st century and visiting Acton’s flagship campus in Austin, Texas, we couldn’t unsee what was possible — classrooms that felt joyous, learners taking ownership of their growth, real questions instead of rote answers. Rather than uproot the family, we decided to bring that joy home to Central Ohio.

Several years and many learners later, we are still grateful for every family on this journey with us.

Join us. Let’s reimagine what school can be.
— Nadia & Varun

The Guides

Our team

Co-Founder & Director · Discovery Guide

Varun Bhatia

From Wall Street to wonder — building the school I wished I’d had as a kid.

My career took me through investment banking, corporate strategy, and corporate finance at PNC Bank, Scotts Miracle‑Gro, and JPMorgan Chase — most recently as a project manager on a Machine Learning team. Then I became a Guide. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Helping young learners grow real skills, find their voices, and lead their own learning is the most meaningful work I’ve done. I hold a B.S. from Ohio State and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

If you’re dreaming of a school where children love learning and are empowered to lead — let’s talk.

Lead Montessori Guide · Spark Studio

Steph Richardson

Where Montessori discipline meets Reggio wonder — she calls it “Reggessori.”

Steph brings over a decade of early childhood expertise and a genuinely global teaching perspective, with experience across the United States and Australia. She holds a Montessori Education certification and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care from Australia, and she developed her own hybrid curriculum — blending the structure of Montessori with the open-ended creativity of Reggio Emilia.

Before Acton, Steph served as Lead Montessori Teacher and Reggio Specialist at Villa Montessori, and as an independent Montessori Consultant. With a background in health and physical education, she designs environments where children grow not only academically, but physically and emotionally.

Growth Studio Guide

Ashlee

A decade of classrooms taught me that play is the most serious work children do.

I believe learning happens best through curiosity, play, and adventure. I hold a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Ashland University, and student-taught in Australia — an experience that lit a lasting fire for hands-on learning.

Back in the States, I spent five years in a full-inclusion preschool classroom and another five teaching kindergarten. Along the way I became a national and international PAX Good Behavior trainer, helping educators build self-regulation strategies with young learners.

Outside the studio, I’m with family, reading, or volunteering at a camp for youth living with diabetes.

Music & Movement Guide · Spark Studio

Zoe

At Spark, learners march to the beat of their own drum — I help them find their natural rhythm.

I have spent 20+ years as a music and movement educator, teaching artist, and performing musician in classrooms and community spaces. Though I have worn many hats, the goal has always been the same: to nurture creative expression.

I hold a B.A. in Jazz Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. I have served as a teaching artist for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Arts Association, and Skool Aid, and have kept a private studio in piano, drums, percussion, improvisation, and composition for two decades. In addition to my musical background, I have also taught group fitness classes in yoga, Pilates, and strength for 15 years, and love integrating movement into our learning.

My approach in the studio is holistic and trauma-informed. Drum circles, singing games, and movement invite young learners to practice listening skills, self-regulation, mindfulness, and collaboration — all with delight. I look forward to exploring our Quests within a framework of safety, belonging, encouragement, and curiosity. See you in the Spark Studio!

When “out in the wild,” you might find me at a local farmers market, hiking a trail, or performing with my band.

Assistant Director

Archna Patel

Optometrist, mother of two, and a believer that children thrive when given the space to try, fail, and try again.

Born in Chicago, raised in Virginia, trained in Illinois — I earned my Doctorate of Optometry before settling in Ohio with my family. My path into education began during my first pregnancy, when I discovered Montessori philosophy and its deep respect for children’s independence.

We’d heard about Acton’s impact from friends across the country. When we learned there was one right here in Columbus, the choice became simple. Our son Savya has grown from Spark to Growth, and we’ve watched the learner-driven model build his confidence and curiosity firsthand.

I’ve spent years teaching Gujarati to young children using hands-on, Montessori-inspired methods — blending culture, language, and child-led learning. My healthcare background taught me to listen closely and support growth carefully. More than anything, I bring the heart of a parent who believes deeply in this approach.

Guide

Julie

My role isn’t to lead the way — it’s to walk alongside a child while they find their own.

For the past 12 years, I’ve worked in public education, primarily supporting learners one-on-one and in small groups. I was responsible for implementing IEPs and 504 plans to help learners navigate big emotions, while building the confidence to work through challenges on their own.

What I love most about this work is watching a learner move from needing help to owning their own progress. Over the years, I’ve learned that patience, flexibility, and really seeing each learner are what make the difference. I’m happiest when I have a team I can collaborate with, because I’ve always enjoyed getting creative when a learner needs a different path to reach the same destination.

Making my own journey from paraprofessional to guide feels like a natural next step — a chance to keep doing the work I love, in a place built around the belief that students are capable of driving their own learning.

In my free time, I can be found outside creating a smorgasbord of food for both pollinators and wildlife alike, reading a book from my ever growing personal library, or exploring new hobbies like rock tumbling and carving wooden spoons, always with the support of my amazing family.

Advisors

Founders of the Acton movement

Laura Sandefer

Acton Co-Founder

After a Vanderbilt undergraduate degree and the Walter Wattles Fellowship at Lloyd’s of London, Laura returned to Nashville for a Master of Education at Peabody College. She built fine arts programs at the Oklahoma Arts Institute before co-founding Acton Academy with her husband Jeff. Her father’s parting advice still shapes her work: “Be curious.”

Jeff Sandefer

Acton Co-Founder

Entrepreneur and Socratic Guide. Jeff founded his first company at 16 and went on to build seven more. As a teacher at the University of Texas, his students named him Outstanding Teacher five times. He co-founded the Acton School of Business — perennially ranked among the best MBA programs in the nation by the Princeton Review. The Economist named him one of the top fifteen business school professors in the world.

Every learner is a hero on their own journey. We’d love to meet yours.

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