Helping Acton Heroes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting scholarships, entrepreneurship, and learner-driven educational opportunities connected to Acton Academy Johnson City.
We believe children are capable of extraordinary things when they are given meaningful responsibility, real-world challenges, and the opportunity to discover their gifts.
Helping Acton Heroes exists to expand access to opportunities that develop independence, leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship, and purpose.
Helping Acton Heroes grew out of the vision and momentum surrounding Acton Academy Johnson City and its growing community of learners and families.
Even before the nonprofit officially formed, learners were launching real businesses through the Children’s Business Fair, growing in confidence through learner-driven education, and discovering what it feels like to create something meaningful.
Acton Academy Johnson City is a registered and certified private school preparing young Heroes for the challenges of the twenty-first century.
The school is regionally accredited through the Middle States Association (MSA), internationally accredited through the International Association of Learner Driven Schools (IALDS), and approved to participate in Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program.
We have seen learners grow in extraordinary ways through learner-driven education and entrepreneurship.
One learner arrived struggling significantly with reading and depending heavily on adults for direction. After discovering he could earn his own computer through accountability and hard work, something shifted.
Over the next 18 months, he completed 16 levels on Lexia, gained approximately four grade levels in reading growth, and developed increasing independence and confidence.
At the Business Fair, children create products, build businesses, interact with customers, and discover what it feels like to contribute something meaningful to the world.
For many learners, it is the first time they realize: “My ideas have value.”
Helping Acton Heroes is building long-term support systems that can expand educational opportunity throughout East Tennessee.
We believe the future of East Tennessee will be shaped by young people who are creative, courageous, entrepreneurial, and prepared to lead. Whether through donations, sponsorships, volunteering, grant partnerships, or community support, we invite you to help anchor the dreams of the next generation.