A message from the founders

About Acton

Acton Academy Lakeside is an innovative, accredited, learner-driven Christian school, for learners ages 4-11 (with expansion plans through high school). Our mission is that every child who enters our doors will find their God-given calling that changes the world. The young heroes of Acton are learning 21st century skills like servant leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, grit and perserverance, critical thinking, and social intelligence. We use Socratic discussions, hands-on projects, and adaptive technology to empower learners to lead their own educational experience. With a tight-knit community, we realize that each child is brimming with potential, endowed with a unique set of passions, gifts, and interests, and capable of far more than we could ever imagine! We have two multi-age classrooms: Spark Studio for ages 4-7 and Exploration Studio for ages 7-11.

Our Mission

Every person who enters our doors will find a God-given calling that changes the world.

Our Promises

Through real-world, hands on projects, Socratic discussions, and a student led environment, we promise to:

  • Begin a journey of adventure, challenge, and transformation – a Hero’s Journey.
  • Learn to be curious, become an independent learner, and love lifelong learning.
  • Discover your most precious God-given gifts, along with the dedication it takes to develop real talent
  • Understand the importance of strong character.
  • Cherish the arts, the wonders of the physical world, and the mystery of life
  • Treasure our freedoms.
  • Be exposed to a biblical, Christian worldview.

How We Do It

  • The hero’s journey, where every child is a hero on a quest to find a God-given calling that will change the world.
  • An intentional, tight-knit learner driven community governed by relational contracts and incentives, consequences, and freedoms.
  • Socratic discussions to strengthen critical thinking, respect, and confidence.
  • Hands on, real world learning through engaging quests and life-changing apprenticeships.• Adaptive game-based tools to enhance core skills learning and develop mastery.

Our Hero’s Journey

Hello! We are Nick and Nancy Dadas, and we have three young men, Kai, Luke, and Crew. We are honored that you are here learning about Acton Academy Lakeside.

Our Hero’s Journey started years ago when we said our vows to each other on our wedding day. A part of those vows were:

I promise to encourage your passions because that is what makes you unique and amazing.

I promise to nurture your dreams because through them your true spirit shines.

Fast forward to when we had 3 young men. Together, our family was always on adventures: discovering, learning by doing, and creating. We saw our children light up when something resonated with their passion and dreams.We realized that natural interests were strong motivators to learning. In our home, we celebrated personal responsibility and strong character. 

Like all parents, as our children approached school age we started thinking about education. We wondered if a traditional school would continue to nurture their passion, curiosity, and love of learning. Will it help them become confident, independent, gritty, and self-aware? Will school prepare them for a fulfilled, successful life in the 21st century? 

When we learned about Acton Academy, we thought ‘if that existed in Cleveland, we would definitely send our children there!’ We were intrigued by the idea of the Hero’s Journey, of learners with freedom to own their own experience,  and of a tight-knit community of learners holding each other accountable. The standards of excellence are high, and success is not about completing worksheets or memorizing facts for a test. The goal is bold yet simple: every child will find their God-given calling to change the world. 

After over a year of prayer and discussion, we decided to use our entrepreneurial, business background to follow a calling to bring the Acton model to Cleveland. We wanted this for our children and for other families that desire a new, innovative approach to education!

Please contact us at hello@actonlakeside.com if you want to learn more about starting your own Hero’s Journey with Acton Academy Lakeside. 

meet your guides

nancy dadas

Nancy Dadas and her husband Nick are co-founders of Acton Academy Lakeside. Nancy also serves as head of school at Acton Academy Lakeside and is the Exploration Studio (ages 7-11) guide.

Nancy’s background shows her love of goal setting, grit, and perseverance – all key attributes practiced daily by Acton learners. As an undergrad at Miami University, she played Division 1 tennis on an academic and athletic scholarship. Out of college she worked for one of the world’s largest consulting firms, primarily in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice. After being exposed to some of the top brands in the world, she decided to pursue a career in brand management which meant first earning an MBA degree. She received a full scholarship to attend the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University where she graduated top of the class and received several awards from both faculty and peers for her results and contribution to the program. Next she joined Nestle in a brand management role, where she was able to use both her strategic and creative thinking at Nestle, working on several billion dollar brands with teams of talented people.

After years in the corporate world, Nancy decided to join Nick and help build their family businesses. She loved the ability to set goals, drive change, and see results as a part of small teams while forming strong relationships and developing leaders.

In 2021 Nick and Nancy learned about Acton Academy and in 2022 decided to bring the magical learning environment to Cleveland, Ohio. Nancy and Nick have 3 sons and they love to play outdoors, play sports, try new hobbies, and tackle adventures together. In addition, Nancy is an Ironman triathlete and enjoys training for endurance races.

stephanie haller

Stephanie graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in National Security policy studies. While at OSU, she enjoyed studying abroad and rowing. She rowed for four years of college and then went on to help start a rowing team at John Carroll University. It was through coaching that she found enjoyment and satisfaction in guiding young people to realize their potential while also cultivating a team, within the sport. Giving key points to an athlete or learner and then leaving them free to find how it works for them was impactful. She became a Montessori 3-6 guide and worked in many fun and interesting places guiding 3-6-year-olds. After years in Idaho, she moved to Italy to pursue her upper-level Montessori training (6-12 year-olds). From Italy to Saipan and then back to Cleveland, where she was born and raised, she was able to bring her passions of guiding children and traveling together. Becoming a mom created a need to not only find a school that was right for her but for her child too. Through divine providence, she answered a text from, a then stranger, to help with the Montessori piece of a new school. After meeting Nancy for the first time, she knew Acton was where she wanted to be. Her calling had taken her around the world, but she found “home” in her backyard. The synergistic relationship between athlete and crew is akin to that of hero and tribe. In this way, her life has come full circle. She finds joy and challenges every day in the Spark studio and is honored to be part of this tribe and have a role in these heroes’ stories.

Deirdre (Dee) Dadas

Dee is a proud wife to her husband George and a mom to her four children Fiona, George III, Delaney and Nico. She Lives in Strongsville and attends Christ Church. As a Christian family their motto is “Do good feel good.” Prior to her adventure of coming to Acton she worked as a nurse. Dee has worked in many different areas in nursing from pediatrics to working with elderly with Alzheimer’s and even at times helping cushion the next step with families in the most difficult times of Hospice care. She is also a helpful care taker to her sister whom has Down syndrome and keeps her active in the community whenever she can.

Dee has always found fulfillment in working with and helping people. She feels that it is her calling. As a Guide she is always amazed at the honest curiosity and determination of young Spark Hero’s, “It’s been such an honor to be a part of their journey and be a witness to OUR next world changers.” Dee loves to travel and explore new cultures and also cheering on her children on the Lacrosse fields. Some of her hobbies are Jazzercise, kickboxing, going for hikes and boating. Her favorite pastime is spending quality time with her family.

Cathy Burns

Ms. Cathy spent two decades teaching middle school before being introduced to the Acton approach to learning. She was immediately drawn to the approach that every child is a hero. She wanted to become part of the world that helped children on their heroes journey while even discovering her own. As she transitioned from traditional, private, Christian school to the Acton model, it became clear that she had found something truly wonderful and world changing.

Ms. Cathy has four children and four grandchildren She enjoys reading history and listening to all types of music. She loves the outdoors – camping, hiking, exploring, and served as an outdoor school counselor for 17 years every fall. She loves traveling to new places and taking missions trips when she is able. She served as an interpreter to the deaf for eight years with the Cleveland Municipal School District and in the churches of which she has been a member.