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Our Story
Like many of you, I sometimes worry about the future. And as a father of five, I know firsthand that worrying is most poignant when your kids are involved.
“Will they have better or worse opportunities than I had?”
“Will they enjoy the same freedoms that we currently enjoy today?”
“Will they have the chance to pursue their interests? The ability to develop their skills? The opportunity to find their callings in life?”
“Will they be happy?...”
I’ve pondered these questions – as a public school teacher in the classroom, as a business owner of private education companies, as a school leader hiring new teachers, as a public policy advisor, and as a father – and I have become absolutely convinced that the last best hope we have for our children is to give them transformative educational experiences – experiences that will not only make them excited to learn every single day, but also prepare them for the world that they will one day inherit from us.
Like many of you, I have also unfortunately had the painful experience of watching my children attend schools where this wasn’t possible – schools where time was wasted, curiosity crushed, love of learning was lost, and boredom reigned supreme. It is hard for anyone to reach their full potential in such an environment.
So we set out to change that.
At Aim Academy we understand that every child is unique – that one size doesn’t fit all. We know that learning to do, learning to learn, and learning to be are more important than just learning to know. We recognize that every student who walks through our doors has a calling in life and our mission is to help them prepare for it. We treasure their curiosity and nourish it. We value their time and their potential and have designed every single aspect of our school to maximize both.
All children should love learning. If you’ve forgotten what that looks like, we invite you to join us and remember.
Sincerely,
Lance Stewart
Founder and Head of School
Our promises to your child
They will:
- 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.
- Understand the importance of strong character.
- Value a healthy lifestyle of mind and body.
Our Team
Lance Stewart
Founder and Head of School
Lance has always been passionate about helping children succeed. He has taught children of all ages in five different countries, in both traditional classrooms and other non-traditional settings, including urban districts in downtown Chicago and Jacksonville, FL while a Teach For America corps member. He is also a successful entrepreneur and currently owns several small businesses with over 100 employees along the Wasatch front --mostly in the education space. His other professional passion is for public policy and he has spent time working with several elected officials, including analyzing Utah education policy for Governor Herbert, and working on Congressman Chris Stewart's campaign (his father). He has a Bachelor of Science in Economics, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate, all from BYU, as well as a Master of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University in NYC-- the #1 rated program in the entire country for launching innovative schools. In his spare time he loves playing with his five children, writing music, and watching UFC.
Serena Cofer
Guide
Serena Cofer is passionate about learning through curiosity, exploration, and awareness - in all walks of her life. She is the mother of four children and loves spending time with them. She received her Montessori Early Childhood teaching credential and her Bachelors degree in education with a UT teaching licence. While at a local charter school, Serena worked with children in various grades ranging from Kindergarten to Middle School. In addition to learning through education and self-education, she also enjoys learning through movement and embodiment practices, including learning to be a Feldenkrais practitioner. Serena loves hiking, reading, and board games; and recently learned to snowboard! She is on a lifelong journey of growth for herself, her children, and all those who join her.
Kayla Stewart
Guide
Kayla Stewart believes children learn best when they are free to struggle, fail, find and foster their creativity and explore the world through their own independent learning. She believes if children are given a safe environment, the correct resources, and room to fail and explore, they will learn to exceed adult expectations in every way and have fun doing so!
Kayla received her bachelor's degree in history and secondary education from Brigham Young University before proceeding to additionally obtain her alternate route to elementary education license. She has spent the last eight years teaching upper elementary at a local Montessori charter school and values what the Montessori philosophy and the children in her classroom has taught her.
When she is not in the classroom, you can find her outside in the mountains. She loves to ski, rock climb, backpack, mountain bike, canyoneer or any other sport that allows her to be in and connect with nature. She believes that nature teaches us more about the world and ourselves than anything in the classroom can and tries to bring what she has learned from the outdoors into her school. Kids are her favorite "adventure buddies!"
Rose Kiernan
Guide
Rose Kiernan loves everything for which Aim Academy stands. She has taught in high schools and elementary schools, as well as private lessons. When introduced to Aim, Rose was impressed by seeing the peaceful and fun learning environment. She knew she wanted to be a part of it because she's experienced how much student led learning is a game-changer in allowing students to grow and succeed. With a background in theatre (B.A. from BYU-Idaho and MFA from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee), Rose has always had a wide range of interests. Rose loves guiding her students to discover things for themselves in every setting. She focuses on a holistic approach so the students she is guiding can experience all types of learning (auditory, kinesthetic, visual, interpersonal, verbal, reading and writing, intrapersonal).
Rose attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music, studying under Irish Opera star Suzanne Murphy. After performing in a festival while living in NYC, she was selected for the privilege of being mentored by Broadway conductor Sande Campbell and the late Andrew Zerman-who was the original casting director of Cats, Les Miserables, and Phantom of the Opera. Rose still performs, and is happy to let her love of performing be second to her love of learning and empowering children.
When Rose isn't digging into the research of her next learning project, she enjoys recording music, exploring Utah like a tourist, and traveling.
Jeff Sandefer
Advisor and Acton Academy Co-Founder
Jeff Sandefer lives a dual life as an entrepreneur and a Socratic Guide. As an entrepreneur, he founded his first company at age 16 and went on to found or co-found seven successful businesses. As a Socratic teacher at the University of Texas, Jeff’s students five times voted him the school’s Outstanding Teacher and Businessweek named him one of the top Entrepreneurship professors in America.
Jeff went on to co-found the Acton School of Business, an MBA program perennially ranked by the Princeton Review among the best in the nation. In 2012 The Economist honored him as one of the top fifteen Business School professors in the world.
Jeff is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, where he served for over twenty years on the school’s governing committees. He was a longtime director of the Philanthropy Roundtable and National Review magazine and one of the youngest members ever elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
Laura Sandefer
Advisor and Acton Academy Co-Founder
Laura lived on both US coasts and in between as a child, then settled into Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Science. After being awarded the highly competitive Walter Wattles Fellowship at Lloyd’s of London, Laura worked in the aviation insurance industry in New York City.
Deciding to follow her calling into the world of education, Laura returned to Nashville and earned her Master of Education at Peabody College. This led her to her work at the Oklahoma Arts Institute, creating fine arts education programs for teachers and talented high school students.
Laura married Jeff Sandefer and is the happy mother of Sam and Charlie and step-mother to Taite. It is the inspiration of these children that led Laura and Jeff to co-found Acton Academy.
Her greatest hero is her mother who was a Master Teacher. Her wisest mentor is her father who sent her off to college with two words of advice: "Be curious."
