Founders of Hero's Journey Academy - Jeremy & Renee Molley along with their two heroes - Charlie and Will.

From our family to yours

We are the Molley family. Like many of you, we wanted to provide the best possible learning environment for our children that would spark their natural curiosity, inspire them to be lifelong learners, challenge them to grow in character, and equip them to be leaders that will change the world.

After exploring a range of educational settings, including public school, private school, and homeschool, we were unable to find anything that fit our vision of what education could be.

When we eventually came across the Acton model, we knew that it was EVERYTHING we were dreaming of... and MORE!

We knew we had to be part of this unique and special community and were thrilled at the opportunity to bring this special private school to other families in Ascension seeking a similar experience for their children.

Together, with parents, we work to make our school the perfect blend of individuality, curiosity, and community.

Our dream was to create an environment where meaningful skills are taught through real-world scenarios.

Where good character gets rewarded, and where developing a problem-solving mindset is the goal instead of an afterthought.

Where children are taught how to think, not what to think.

Where children wake up on Saturdays disappointed that there is no school.‍

The school you wish you had gone to.
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Yes, just call us crazy, but we join 278 other Actons in 48 states and 27 countries around the world who are all on this journey together.

The only question is, are you crazy enough to join?

Our Campus

Hero's Journey Academy is conveniently located right off the I-10 Tanger Mall exit at 316 E. Hwy 30, Gonzales LA 70737.

Our Team

Jeremy Molley

Founder

Proud father of two boys, husband to a phenomenal wife, and the owner of Hero's Martial arts, Hero's After School, Hero's Summer Camp, and Hero's Journey Academy. He is passionate about children and changing lives.

Renee Molley

Chief Encourager

Chief encourager, super mom, graceful ballerina, elephant rider, and master of details!

Brandi Tanksley

Elementary Studio Guide

Once upon a time there was a girl who loved school. She grew up and became a teacher at a public school where free time was non-existent, tests were frequent, and students were pushed forward whether they mastered content or not. One day she decided she was tired of feeling like she was perpetuating a broken system she didn't believe in. She found Hero's Journey Academy and became excited to work in a school with the same values and it has been a fulfilling journey!

Gigi Troxclair

Montessori Studio Guide

Once upon a time there was a little girl named GiGi with an innate superpower and mission to do here on earth that would greatly impact the lives of others, especially children! To be apart of something that profoundly impacts the lives of others and contributes to a better society for the future is something so special and forever rich! Her vision was to take every experience, opportunity, and lesson whether a success or failure; and use it as guidance not just for herself but for others. She believes children deserve and are bestowed this gift of discovery in life on their own path to figure out what success means to them and how they are to get there; not by someone telling or showing them but through their own personal freedom, choices and development!

  • BA Psychology
  • Minor Sociology
  • Montessori over 20 years experience

Kandance Magee

Office Ninja

Kandance is a parent of a Hero and a ninja at helping other parents with their journey at Hero's!

Veronica Molley

Director of our After-school Program & Summer Camp

A 5th degree blackbelt who has been mentoring children and team members her entire life. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and spoiling grandchildren.

Our Advisors

Jeff Sandefer

Co-Founder - Acton Academy

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

Co-Founder - Acton Academy

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."

Accreditation

Hero's Journey Academy is an independent private school in Gonzales, Louisiana. We are accredited by ​The International Association of Learner Driven Schools. IALDS is an accrediting entity and organization that is focused on the learner-driven communities.

Our Promises

We promise through Socratic guiding and experiential learning to encourage each member of our community to:

  • 1

    Begin a Hero’s Journey,

  • 2

    Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery.

  • 3

    Become a curious, independent, life-long learner.

  • 4

    Embrace the forging of a strong character.

  • 5

    Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life.

  • 6

    Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.

Acton School Guide

Our Beliefs

We believe clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to the right habits, the right habits forge character, and character determines destiny.

  • 1

    We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way;

  • 2

    We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.

  • 3

    We believe in a closely connected family of life-long learners.

  • 4

    We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.

Acton School Guide

What we focus on

It’s About People
We prioritize inspiring students to develop friendships, personal accountability, and unwavering convictions while respecting others.

Character Is Destiny
Character matters. We believe in cultivating meaningful skills and character for long-term success.

Solve Big Problems
We encourage big dreams, vision, and skills to tackle the world's significant challenges.

Get Back Up
Resilience is key. We teach the value of getting back up and trying again after failure.

We Have What It Takes
We're stronger together. By appreciating diverse perspectives and fostering collaboration, we empower students to work alongside their peers.

Acton School Guide

Our Economic Model

We believe self-directed, peer-to-peer learner-driven communities built by our young Heroes will deliver transformational learning at a cost all parents can afford.