Meet Heidi Harsin, co-founder of Acton Academy Lincoln.
Tell us a little about your business. – Acton Academy’s (actonacademylincoln.com) mixed-age classrooms are learner-driven, self-paced, and student-led. For me personally, the fact that Acton doesn’t do lectures, tests, or homework was all I needed to know. Another highlight is that children must master their subjects before moving on, requiring they have a full understanding of the material. What’s even better is the fact that, by the time students graduate from Action, they will have all completed 15-20 real-world apprenticeships and internships, giving them true knowledge about their passions and strengths.
Tell us how you got started in the business. – The idea for Acton Academy Lincoln was born in February of 2019, pre-COVID chaos. I was really struggling as a mom with what our next move was as we prepared to move our oldest from preschool to kindergarten. My instincts told me that the traditional model wasn’t going to be the right fit for our family. My husband came across a Facebook ad for Acton Academy Omaha. Once we did our research, we knew that not only was Acton the right fit for our family, but we also had no doubt that many other Lincoln families would feel the same. While we know that Acton is not the right fit for every family, we still want every family to know that Acton exists. As we worked to find the right school choice for our family, the most challenging piece was not having a true understanding of what all of our options were. Lincoln families deserve to know they have a choice about their child’s education. It’s been a very powerful six months, listening to other Action parents share their stories, watching our own daughter develop and grow as a confident leader in this space, and seeing what big things these kids are capable of when given the freedom and power to do so.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – I think most moms would agree, it’s the balancing game between work and home.
Tell us a little about your family. – My husband Zach and I have three kids: Haddie (5), Sawyer (3), Milo (1), and our beloved pup Bailey. We’re both small-town Nebraska kids that came to Lincoln for college and never left.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Spend time outdoors with my family, get a workout in, read, go on a date with my husband, take a nap…the list goes on and on.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Intentional.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? – Being in two, or three, places at once.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – I’m currently reading, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Keson McGurk. I’m obsessed with getting our children outdoors.
What is your favorite TV show? – The Office.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Blue Orchid, Carmela’s Bistro, and Copal Mexican Restaurant are at top the list.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 858-5151; hello@actonacademylincoln.com; actonacademylincoln.com. I encourage parents to schedule a tour if they are interested in learning more!