Our journey began as parents seeking to find an education for our young children. We wanted their education to be more than just filling their brains with information. We hoped that they could grow to be curious and truly find a love for learning.
The belief that every young person is a genius who will find their calling and change the world is what really drew us to open Nawá. We truly believe that learning to be and learning to do is more important than learning to know. Our goal is to inspire and equip young people to find and explore their gifts and passions so that they may reach the potential that is already within them.
Nawá is centrally located at Calle Alma Dayer #809Col. LeBaron, Galeana Chihuahua, 31870
.jpg)
Her love for children started when she was very young. She worked at a Montessori school before becoming a mother to four beautiful children. She is passionate about the world of education and consistently seeks to continue learning. She never shies away from an adventure and is thorough in her research before reaching any decision. She loves to be creative and think outside the box. She is a kind and welcoming person who always sees the best in others.
Kendrick is the co-founder of Nawá: An Acton Academy and father to three wild boys and one little princess. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and loves to take on new challenges. He believes every challenge is a lesson to be learned. As an entrepreneur, he embraces new opportunities without hesitation. Problem solving is one of his greatest strengths. He stays positive in hard situations and loves to add humor in all he does.
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 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."
Begin a Hero’s Journey,
Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery.
Become a curious, independent, life-long learner.
Embrace the forging of a strong character.
Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life.
Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.
We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way;
We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
We believe in a closely connected family of life-long learners.
We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.
