Who We Are
We discovered that Acton is not just a school, but a way of life.
We no longer answer questions, but encourage others to find the answers.
Our children have an excitement in their eyes when they discover an answer they worked hard to find.
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We decided to join the movement and launch our own Acton Academy, Vine Academy – An Acton Affiliate in the Fall of 2021. Every hero at Acton has a unique journey and story. We are here to help your young heroes discover the incredible plans God has for their lives!
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Our mission is to inspire each person who enters our doors to discover his or her God-given calling that will change the world.
Our Mission
We believe each person who enters our doors will discover his or her calling from God to change the world.
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Our Promises
We promise through Socratic guiding and experiential learning to encourage each member of our community to:
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Begin a Hero’s Journey;
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Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery;
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Become a curious, independent, life-long learner;
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Embrace the forging of a strong character;
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Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life; and
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Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.
Our Beliefs
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We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.
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We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
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We believe in a closely connected family of lifelong learners.
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We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.
Our Educational Philosophy
We believe clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to the right habits, the right habits forge character, and character determines destiny.
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Our Economic Model
We believe self-directed, peer-to-peer learner-driven communities built by our young Heroes will deliver transformational learning at a cost all parents can afford.
Meet our families
Long before the Masons had school aged children, they were on a mission to find a non-traditional education for their children. While there are excellently rated public schools in the north Texas area, traditional public schools did not seem to provide the education that their family was looking for. As their oldest child was approaching Kindergarten, their searches became more intentional. They considered local private schools but the significant annual investment per child was a deterrent for them, as siblings would be approaching school age in the very near future. In the spring of 2020, a friend introduced the Masons to Acton Academy. After diving into the model and its mission, they realized this was exactly the kind of school they had been searching for. Their son enrolled that fall, and during the 2020–2021 school year, they fell in love with the Acton approach and the incredible growth it sparked in their family.
The Masons
Meet The Team
We would love to connect and hear about your journey!
Theresa Mason
Co-Founder and Head of School
Theresa is a serial entrepreneur! Since graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2004, she has started and sold multiple businesses. From painting to real estate, country music to non-profits, Theresa loves serving others, growing, learning, and leading. Currently, Theresa and her husband, Justin, are Brokers and Owners of Magnolia Realty in Grapevine, TX. Theresa also manages Justin’s country music career. When the opportunity presented itself to start an Acton Academy franchise in Grapevine, Theresa was up for the challenge. Seeing her own children thrive in this incredible learning environment and seeing the joy they had for school, made this decision easy. She and Justin, like so many other parents, are passionate and intentional when it comes to their children. Being able to provide an Acton educational model in Grapevine for her own children as well as others in the community is truly rewarding and exciting!
Justin Mason
Co-Founder and Lead Guide
Justin is a veteran of the United States Navy, a former Police Officer, Real Estate Broker, country music entertainer and co-owner of Vine Academy. He is also a husband and proud father of 3 amazing kids. After seeing his own son thrive in the incredible learning environment of Acton and seeing the joy he had for school, Justin, along with his wife, Theresa, felt that the decision to start Vine Academy was easy. Like so many other parents, Justin and Theresa are passionate and intentional when it comes to their children. Being able to provide an Acton educational model in Grapevine is a rewarding and exciting venture!
Jeff Safender
Mentor, Co-Founder of Acton Academy
Jeff Sandefer is the Co-Founder of Acton Academy, Middle School Guide, Founder of The Acton MBA School. His support, inspiration, and guidance have been a tremendous part of our success at Vine Academy.
Laura Safender
Mentor, Co-Founder of Acton Academy
Laura Sandefer is the Co-Founder, Head of Schools, and Elementary Guide at Acton Academy. She is also the author of Courage to Grow. Her guidance, inspiration, and mentorship every step of the way have been an integral part of our success at Vine Academy.