Sharon Chmura-Moore
When my daughter was three, I wasn't searching for a new school. I was a classical violist and a college professor. Starting a school, especially one like Acton, was not part of my plan.
Acton found me because a friend did the searching. She discovered Acton, handed me Courage to Grow, and later said something I didn't want to hear: our community needed me to lead. I loved the Acton dream — but I wasn't ready to say yes.
Then my daughter answered that question for me. She was four and splitting her time between a 4K classroom and a university daycare. One afternoon, I asked which she liked better. She said, "I like them both. But in my 4K class I have to sit and listen to learn. In my daycare class, I play and learn. I think I learn better when I play." I hadn't prompted her. She simply showed me what mattered.
Opening Acton Academy Oshkosh was scary. We started small, during the pandemic, with no guarantees. The school grew one family at a time through trust, word of mouth, and an honest commitment to joy and excellence. Along the way, I've learned more about myself, my children, and my community than any creative or professional path I've ever taken.