“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Jayme Bynum Co-Founder and Head of School
Jayme Bynum co-founded Acton Academy West Austin in 2014 with her husband Joey Bynum. Their four children were the inspiration for her mission to find the best real-world schooling method that would prepare each of them for their futures. The Acton Academy model made this pursuit a reality and she wants nothing more than to share this vision and help bring education to the 21st century. She has been the Head of School for over a decade at Acton Academy West Austin where her passion is inspiring children to find their calling and change the world.
Prior to founding Acton Academy West, Jayme pursued her passion in competitive dog training, she attended the world renowned Starmark Dog Training Academy in Hutto, Texas. Through the Academy she became a Certified Canine Behavior and Training Specialist. Jayme had the privilege to be the on set dog trainer for major motion films that came through the Academy. Always the entrepreneur, Jayme is the Co-Founder of Dog School Austin LLC in Austin, TX.
Joey Bynum Co-Founder
Joey was born and raised in Austin, TX. While working towards his Mechanical Engineering degree, Joey balanced academics and his love for competitive rowing for Texas Crew. He went on to become a head coach for Texas Crew. Joey then worked for several years in the oil and gas business, in Houston, TX. He was then offered an opportunity to take an engineering job in Bucharest, Romania. After almost four years overseas with his wife and children, he was ready to make a change and expand his education. He was accepted at the Acton School of Business and made the move back to Austin with his family to complete his degree.
While receiving his MBA at Acton he had first hand experience with the students at the Acton Academy, and was more than impressed with what he saw. Joey knew then that the Acton model was the place for his own four children. With his love for coaching and the Socratic method he was inspired along with his wife Jayme, to open their own Acton Academy in 2014 and create an environment where children are free to find their own callings and change the world. Joey is the head of curriculum as well as the middle and high school Guide at Acton Academy West Austin. Feel free to read more about Joey on Linkedin.
The Bynum Family
As a couple Joey and Jayme have always been known to take the road less traveled. In 2009 they moved overseas to Bucharest, Romania with their six month old son. As a family they were able to travel to almost every country in Europe, over their four years living abroad. As a family of four they ran the Bucharest half marathon. They have competed together in the 100 mile Colorado river race. They completed their goal of traveling together to all 50 states (48 of them by road-trip)! Joey and Jayme have always been a team that seeks purpose, fulfillment and adventure, while being dedicated to living a life of meaning. As a family they founded Acton Academy West Austin in 2014, not only for their own four children but for as many families as they can serve.
Meet Our Guides
Joey Bynum - Middle and High School Guide
While receiving his MBA at Acton he had first hand experience with the students at the Acton Academy, and was more than impressed with what he saw. Joey knew then that the Acton model was the place for his own four children. With his love for coaching and the Socratic method he was inspired along with his wife Jayme, to open their own Acton Academy in 2014 and create an environment where children are free to find their own callings and change the world. Joey has been the head of curriculum as well as the middle and high school Guide at Acton Academy West Austin. Feel free to read more about Joey on Linkedin.
A Note from Us
Founding Acton Academy West Austin is our calling. We are so fortunate to be on this hero’s journey with other extraordinary heroes and their families, in this wonderful community we have built together. We invite you to explore Acton and we look forward to getting to know you and your family along the way.
We are modeling Acton Academy West Austin after the original Acton Academy that was founded here in Austin, Texas. Jeff and Laura Sandefer have inspired us in every way and we are thankful for their expertise over the years and ongoing mentorship. We invite you to learn more about them below.
Laura Sandefer Co-Founder and Head of School
Raised by a science teacher and minister, Laura lived on both coasts and in between as a child, then landed at Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Science.
After working in London and New York City in the aviation insurance business, Laura yearned to follow her heart into the world of teaching. She went back to Vanderbilt's renowned Peabody College and received her Master of Education. This led her to work in arts education at the Oklahoma Arts Institute. Laura later married Jeff Sandefer and has two sons and a step-daughter. It is the inspiration of these children that led Laura and Jeff to co-found Acton Academy.
Her greatest hero is her beloved late mother who was a Master Teacher as none other. Her wisest mentor is her father who sent her off to college with two words of advice: "Be curious."
Jeff Sandefer Co-Founder and Middle School Lead Guide
Jeff Sandefer is an entrepreneur and a Socratic teacher.
As an entrepreneur, he began by starting his first company at age 16 and most recently sold Sandefer Capital: an energy investment firm with several billion dollars in assets.
As a teacher, he co-founded the Acton School of Business, a school dedicated to America’s next generation of principled entrepreneurs and famous for its 100-hour work weeks. The Princeton Review has consistently ranked Acton’s teachers, students and program among the best in the country. While at the University of Texas, Jeff’s students voted him the school’s Most Outstanding Teacher for a total of five times, and he was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top Entrepreneurship professors in America.
Jeff has been a longtime board member of National Review magazine, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the Philanthropy Roundtable and the Harvard Business School and is one of the youngest members ever elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame.