

Hello. We're the Lucas Family.
We've been there. We are there.
Being a parent of young children today is tough. And rewarding. But mostly tough. This whole Life-Sherpa-for-Tiny-People thing is no joke - it's our greatest privilege and our passion.
We know what it's like to desperately want to arm your child with the tools and skills they will need to live a rich, fulfilling Life of Meaning...and yet not know exactly how to go about delivering it...
We know where we're going.
After searching high and low for an educational model that resonated with us, most roads have led to deep disappointment (and sometimes outrage). They deserve better - we all do.
We strongly believe that the Acton Academy educational model offers the most promise for delivering the learning outcomes young people deserve.
Come with us.
We are proud to be part of the growing movement of parents and educators that are disrupting the current educational landscape. This is part of our own Hero's Journey...wanna join us?
HIDDEN


Angela
- Head of School -
Born & raised in Houston, Texas by a pack of feral lifelong learners, I came to Austin to attend the University of Texas. Two Bachelor's degrees, an MBA, a husband, two kids and two dogs later, I'm ready to take my passion for disruptive education to the next level. Check out my online resume here if you'd like.


Nick
- Discovery Studio Guide -
My Hero's Journey has had lots of twists and turns and I have found myself doing many different things, from teaching high school Math & Spanish, to working as a professional chef, to co-founding our crazy little pre-k co-op called Splitter Splat. I believe everyone has a spark that brightens the world and look forward to guiding others to find their calling so that we may all leave our mark.


Ava
- R&D -


Andrew
- Quality Control -
Meet Tara, our Spark Studio Guide!



Tara
- Spark Studio Guide -
Tara Kaye has had a passionate interest in growth and development that has led her to pursue positions, voluntary and occupational, that have allowed her to grow and develop a wide range of skills as an Entrepreneur and as a parent. From working her way up from an entry-level Sales position to Owner of her own Promotional Marketing company to Independent Contractor for local small businesses to becoming a parent 7 years ago she has been focused on the science behind growth and development.
After a year of being a Mom to 2 boys - now almost 5 and 7 years old - and researching all her options for developing their mind, body and life skills, she found Tinkergarten and fell in love with their approach to cultivating all these skills through ample outdoor play. She became certified in Early Childhood Development over the next years and really honed her skills of guiding kids ages 2 to 8, and parents.
If it were not for her agreeing to be our Spark Guide we would not have a Spark Studio right now. Her entrepreneurial life experiences, certification in Early Childhood Development through Tinkergarten and Kids Coaching certification through KidStrong are exactly the well-rounded, Hero’s Journey adventurer background sought after for Acton Guides. We are so thankful to see her excited to take her love of science - growth and development - and ability to observe and guide learning in children and embark on her next Hero’s Journey with us.
Meet Nick, our Discovery Studio Guide!


Nick
- Discovery Studio Guide -
Nick Lucas brings a diverse background and a love of learning to Acton Academy Northwest Austin. With a degree in Spanish and a minor in math, he spent a year teaching high schoolers the art of language and numbers before taking an unexpected detour—culinary school. As a former chef, he knows that the best learning happens when curiosity and creativity mix, whether in the kitchen or the Studio.
As a Discovery Studio Guide, Nick doesn’t hand out answers—he inspires, equips, and connects learners so they can discover them on their own. He believes young people are far more capable than they realize and is constantly amazed by their reflections and insights. His mission? To help heroes unlock their full potential, one great question at a time.
Nick is fluent in math, Spanish, and dad jokes. He’s got a sharp mind for numbers, a deep appreciation for languages, and a well-documented love of puns. Whether he’s sparking a Socratic discussion or cracking a joke, his playful approach makes the journey of learning both meaningful and fun.
When he’s not in the Studio, you might find Nick cooking up something delicious, geeking out over wordplay, reading action-packed fiction or solving the random Rubik's Cubes his kids are constantly leaving on the living room floor.
Meet Angela, Head of School!


Angela
- Head of School -
Angela Griffiths is a lifelong learner, entrepreneur, and AI enthusiast who co-founded Acton Academy Northwest Austin with her husband, Nick Lucas, to create the kind of school they wished existed for their own children, Ava and Andrew. With undergraduate degrees in music and psychology and an MBA in entrepreneurship, Angela brings a unique mix of creativity, human insight, and strategic thinking to the learning community.
She believes that every person is on their own Hero’s Journey, and her greatest hope is to inspire young learners—and their parents—to say “yes” to their own Calls to Adventure. At Acton NWA, she hopes to foster a culture where curiosity, courage, and discovery take center stage, and where learners are equipped to forge their own paths with confidence.
Angela’s mind is a playground of infinite puzzles, algorithmic thinking, and spontaneous musical improvisation. Whether she’s exploring recursive systems, astrophysics, tinkering with AI, or rolling dice to compose piano melodies on the fly, she thrives on the intersection of logic, creativity, and discovery.
Above all, she just wants to be part of a community where people are kind, work hard, and do cool things. At Acton NWA, she’s found exactly that.
HIDDEN - Meet Mike, our Campus Support!

Mike
- Campus Support -
Introducing Mike, our newest team member!
As our Campus Support lead, Mike is helping take care of important behind-the-scenes projects as we continue to grow our learning community - everything from graphic design and administrative tasks to property improvements, tech support and learning design collaboration.
Mike has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and is currently pursuing his teaching certification in Technology Applications. We are so thankful to see him take his passion for education and embark on this next chapter of his Hero's Journey with us.
He and his wife Ali have their hands full raising their 4 children, chickens, quail and bunnies in Jarrell, Texas.
FAMILY APPLICATION PROCESS
Ready to take the next step? Learn more about our simple, thoughtful application process and start your journey toward joining our community of lifelong learners.