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Acton Academy Seacoast
Education Reinvented
Become Inspired. Change the World.
Watch Our Behind-The-Scenes School Video!
Meet Brian and Sarah Cheek
and find out why these SEACOAST parents started a school.
School, as we know it, was designed in 1893
Our school was born different. Acton Academy is one of the newest and most innovative (and downright coolest) school designs in the world. Each Acton school was founded by parents who believe there is a better way to educate their children and help other like-minded families in their community.
What is Acton Academy?
What exactly is the difference between Acton Academy and other schools?
- Acton Academy Seacoast uses the latest technology in a self-paced learning environment that is designed to foster responsibility, goal-setting, and teamwork. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners.
- We believe students learn by doing. Whether it’s launching a startup business, creating a tidepool habitat, playing a musical instrument, painting a mosaic, or programming a robot, Acton students are building real-life skills in the classroom every day.
- We believe the learning experience is much richer when the teacher (“Guide”) offers insightful questions and facilitates hands-on learning. Guides use the Socratic method, always responding to students’ questions with new questions. This exchange hones students’ critical thinking skills. No boring sit in your desk teacher-led lecture-style learning at Acton!
- Acton Academy is “student led.” This means young people take ownership of their education and peer relationships. Acton students learn to think independently, take responsibility and embrace challenge. They are being prepared to bring their own unique genius to the world.
- We believe in the power of apprenticeships. Beginning in middle school, our students obtain summer internships in a field they are passionate about. Acton students have interned with doctors, entrepreneur bakers, plumbers, attorneys and graphic designers. What will your child choose?
- We encourage our students to develop personal virtues such as honesty, hard work, responsibility, kindness and empathy. Armed with purpose and good character, we believe our students will launch into adulthood prepared to find their calling and change the world.
Need To Know MORE About What Acton Academy Can Do For Your child?
At Acton Academy, We Call Our Classrooms "Studios" Because Students Are Learning Through Movement, Exploration, And Hands-On Activities. Find Out How Our Learning Design Can Help Your Child Reach Their Full Potential.
Monstessori Spark Studio
Early Kinder-1st grade
Elementary Studio
2nd-5th Grade
Middle School Studio
6th-8th Grade
Launchpad Studio
High School
Watch This Short Award Winning Documentary About Acton Academy
Are you frustrated with the old, traditional educational model that teaches students to spit out facts and pass state-mandated tests?
Our promise to your child
We believe each of our students will find a passion – something they love and have a gift to do – finding and pursuing this gift we call the Hero’s Journey. Our mission is to equip our students with the skills and tools they will need to find and pursue their life’s purpose.
- Begin a Hero’s Journey.
- Learn to be a curious, independent, lifelong learner.
- Develop a deep respect for economic, political and religious freedoms.
- Cherish the arts, wonders of the physical world and the mysteries of life on Earth.
- Discover his or her most precious gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems.
Our Students build small businesses from the ground-Up
Watch the video to learn about our business fair
Seacoast Business Fair
See Why So Many Parents Just Like You
Choose Acton Academy!
Who We Are
Sarah Cheek
Co- Founder
Sarah is a mom of three young boys who is coming into her own as the service-minded entrepreneur that has always lived inside her. She was a bedside nurse for 12 years and then evolved that career into a process improvement leadership role, implementing Lean healthcare principles to improve safety, service and patient outcomes. She led health organizations (surgery centers and hospitals) down the Lean path – working with executives and front line staff and everyone in between to rethink their organizational habits, dig deep to foster much needed (and at times painful) change, and to re-imagine systems and thought processes in ways not previously dreamed possible. She went on to help families, and specifically moms of young children, to apply these systems in their personal lives to gain efficiency, lower daily stress, and create more time for personal renewal.
Starting a school for her children felt like the next logical step for her in her journey to expand and serve more people. Building an educational village, starting with her children is a dream that excites her. The moment she learned about the Acton Academy model, she knew it would be a part of her life path and allow her to make a large impact on the world.
Brian Cheek
Lead Guide Elementary Studio/Co-founder
Brian has been an Actuary, corporate consultant, teacher, guidance counselor, tutor, entrepreneur, and realtor. Common themes running through his varied experience include a deep caring for his students and clients, a desire to help people make their best decisions in any given moment, and a calling to express himself authentically, to continually expand, grow and inspire others. As an educator, he has always stood up for the child in all of his roles; he has dreamed of a school environment with more freedom, exhilaration, and discovery and is now grateful for the opportunity to turn that dream into reality.
He has mentored children to navigate the school system while rediscovering their unique gifts and skills and currently coaches adult clients to realize their full potential. He has become more aware and conscious about his life as an adult and is excited to guide young people to awaken this magical part of themselves as children.
Monique Morgan
Lead Guide- Spark Montessori Studio
Monique grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and had the benefit of knowing a real life hero. Her mother was an example of hard work and perseverance as somebody who put herself through college while working and providing for her children. Monique loved the stories her mother would tell of the many children she taught in the Boston Public School system, but had her own dream of traveling and exploring the world.
Monique, determined to make her dream a reality, enrolled at Massachusetts Maritime Academy where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Safety and Environmental Protection as well as a USCG 1600-Ton Near Coastal Mate License. During her maritime career she traveled to many places such as Gibraltar, Spain, Greece, Cuba, Barbados and Aruba but her favorite was a summer in Valdez, Alaska. Her college experience also includes meeting her husband who she moved to Southern Maine with in 2002. There she has embarked on the fulfilling experience of creating a family.
Her children attended ChildLight Montessori School in Berwick, Maine and through their positive educational experience Monique formed an appreciation for the Montessori Philosophy. She jumped into the fascinating world of education and received her American Montessori Society Early Childhood Credential from Northeast Montessori Institute. As her own children grew and moved on to other schools, Monique remained at ChildLight Montessori school finding joy in guiding 3 to 6 year olds on their individual learning journeys for 8 years before it’s closing in 2020.
The opportunity to board another educational vessel presented itself with the start of Acton Academy Seacoast, an adventure that Monique is excited to be part of! She is looking forward to being in the presence of so many heroes along their own unique journeys.
Brian Surkan
Lead Guide - Middle School/Launchpad
After a first career as a software entrepreneur, Brian spent the past eighteen years teaching a variety of subjects in private 6-12 schools. His teaching experience spans history, French, Spanish, German, math, science, writing, research, economics, programming and robotics.
An innovator from the outset, Brian was an unconventional teacher in traditional schools. His classroom continually morphing to fit the activity at hand, shifted its default configuration from rows to circles and finally to a full studio environment, complete with Socratic circles and computer workstations. Over time, the arbitrary separations between subjects began to fade.
Frustrated with conventional educational models designed around memorization and testing, Brian began designing his own school centered around learning core academics and life skills in an integrated environment. He wanted to create a school based on mastery, meaningful discussions and intrinsic motivation.
Upon discovering Acton, Brian found his people. The integrated, applied quests, student-centered Socratic Discussions, student-maintained studios and regular internships were a perfect fit. All that was missing was a robust world language program, for which Brian already had discovered effective methods both at home and in the classroom.
Brian is especially excited to be the founding guide for the middle school and launchpad at Acton Seacoast. He is excited to help students realize their full potential and nurture their curiosity, creativity, productivity, independence and joy.
Stashue Pawlendzio
Elementary Guide
Stashue Pawlendzio is a husband and father of three sons (13,12 and 5) and lives in York ME. He comes to Acton Academy as a former grade school & summer program counselor from Catholic Charities and is a wrestling coach for York High School, Middle School and Hammer Head Youth Program. As a parent of an Acton Academy Hero, Stashue has embraced Acton’s philosophy of the “learner driven education” and has seen just how much it has allowed his son to grow.
One of Stashue’s primary goals is to encourage each learner to discover and understand their own abilities, empowering them along their journey. He also strives to be a patient Guide, allowing learners to grow at their own pace and giving them the chance to experience improvement through their own motivation. Stashue loves playing board games of all kinds and frequently goes camping in the White Mountains and fishing with his family.
We are a
TimberNook school!
At the heart of TimberNook, programming is the philosophy that children flourish when given the time and space to play in sensory-rich, experiential learning environments. Bringing exploration and nature together results in a truly unique way to reach children at a key point in their development. TimberNook programs offer the ultimate sensory experience for children, challenging the mind, body, and the senses through meaningful outdoor play opportunities.
Here Are A Few FAQs :
Acton is the right place for your child if they…
- Wish traditional school was more challenging and engaging.
- Enjoy doing projects around their interests with just a few dozen young people.
- Build, create, innovate, or make art.
- See things differently.
- Care about their future, want to find a calling, and want to change the world.
- Are kind, hardworking, and committed to doing their best.
Acton uses the best of Montessori methods: mixed-age classrooms, student choice within limits,
large blocks of work time, learning through “discovery,” and freedom of movement in the
classroom. Then we go two important steps further by using the best 21st century eLearning
tools and adhering to the Socratic method of instruction which emphasizes asking and answering
the right questions to stimulate critical thinking. Our students don’t just memorize facts, they learn
how to know, learn how to do, and learn how to be.
- Real world apprenticeships
- Student-directed quests
- Language immersion opportunities
- Mastery based learning in core academic subjects
- Leadership opportunities peer:peer
- Experiential learning of integrated life skills
- Flexible schedule 6-week long sessions
- Students direct and take ownership of their learning
- Learn self-governance, self-direction, and self-control towards noble, challenging, and stimulating activities
We provide a 21st century learning environment using the latest in educational technology for self-paced mastery of reading, writing, elective courses, and math skills. Students are placed according to ability so that our program can meet the student right where they are. Students move on to the next level only after the content has been mastered, which ensures there are no learning gaps.
We believe that students become confident, independent learners, and good citizens when they embrace the following character qualities: integrity, resilience, self-reflection, and empathy. We believe in personal responsibility and high accountability standards. Acton students are encouraged to take responsibility for their choices and actions as we think developing a strong moral compass will help students lead joyful and successful lives. Character learning is woven into all parts of learning at Acton.
At Acton Academy Seacoast we believe in learning to be and learning to do and an important
part of this is encouraging kids to take responsibility for their own behavior and hold those around
them to a high standard. When something isn’t working, we want our students to work together to
solve the problem, not look for an adult to solve it for them. This creates a sense of
independence and confidence that will serve them well in all areas of life.
We believe that children learn best when working with those younger and older than themselves
rather than split up into groups based solely on age. We have three studios: Spark (K/1), Explorer
(2-5), and Launch Pad (6-10).
We measure student progress in several different ways:
- We set daily, weekly, and session goals between the student and the Guides.
- We utilize robust real-time data for each of our online learning tools.
- At any given time both parents and Guides can find out exactly what their student is learning. It
easily allows us to track progress, identify areas of struggle and close any learning gaps. - The staff is alerted if a student gets anymore than 2 wrong in a row.
- Having a small class size, we are able to work one on one with the student to make sure that we
can close gaps and help them master the skill. - The web based programs don’t allow the student to move on to the next skill until it has been
mastered. - We utilize individual paper portfolios where each student showcases and adds their best work.
- We can measure their growth in things such as History, Writer’s Workshops, and any Quest use
projects we have. - Though we never “teach to the test”, optional standardized tests are given each Fall & Spring
provide useful benchmark data.
- We create portfolios of work that translates to traditional transcripts.
- Additionally, students are encouraged to take advantage of classes and certifications while at Acton that are recognized by employers and colleges. These include AP classes and professional certifications.
- Acton translates the mastery badges to a traditional report card format
At Acton Academy, we believe in the power of balance. Using the incredible, self-paced eLearning
tools now available, we are able to provide the rigor needed for learning math, vocabulary, spelling
and grammar in about 90 minutes each day, while freeing up the rest of the day for engaging, project-
based learning. The two are highly complementary. Those learners in the Spark Studio (K/1) do not
use technology for their academic work period. It is Montessori based for that age group.
For our first two years we will be located in a beautiful space in the Cocheco Mills Building
directly across from Henry Law Park in Downtown Dover. Our long term plans are to buy property
and build a school with lots of space and nature allowing more outdoor exploration for the
learners.
We operate on an 11- month calendar, but our flexible program allows families to travel together during the year, without sacrificing any learning.
From glow-in-the-dark contemporary painting to making music with ukuleles, boomwackers, and paint buckets, our students experience varied and unique art and music workshops. Checkout our YouTube channel to see music videos produced and recorded by our students.
Although we do not offer formal team sports, many of our students participate in city league sports. Our school embraces a deep commitment to physical fitness and overall health awareness. Acton students explore a variety of physical activities that have ranged from soccer, golf, track, hiking, dance, and rock climbing. Our students are very active, and we strongly support good sportsmanship and teamwork.
Do you want your child to feel like life is an endless stream of opportunities?
Are you ready to learn more about Acton Academy?
- Step 1. Visit our campus and ask lots of questions.
- Step 2. Begin your family’s application.