About The Seeds Academy
The Founder's
Story
Justine Towarnicki worked as a special education teacher for 14 years. She began her career with a degree from Gwynedd Mercy College teaching elementary special education. Her career changed course in 2011 when she developed the high school functional skills program, becoming high school special education department chair in 2019.
In 2019, her children enrolled in Deep Creek Learning Center: Acton Academy, an Acton school local to her home in Perkiomenville. There was a stark juxtaposition between their day-to-day academic experience, and what Justine (and her husband Chad), were witnessing in the public school system. Watching the development of her own children in this new environment, as well as the school itself, encouraged her to resign from public education at the end of the 2022 school year.
During the 2022-'23 School year Justine was a Guide at DCLC: Acton Academy in Skippack, Pa, prior to the opening of The Seeds Academy in the fall of 2023.
Chad Towarnicki is a 17-year English teacher at the secondary level with post-secondary teaching experience as well. He holds degrees in English Lit, Education, and Nonfiction Writing. He is active in the writing field, publishing both fiction and nonfiction work related to the field of education as well as historical fiction. He is also the co-founder of The Uplifting Voices Project, which is a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the work of local creatives in south-eastern PA.
Building on his experience in public schools writing curriculum and designing instructional materials, Chad is involved in designing and/or choosing some of the programming and materials used for our secondary learners at Seeds Academy. His mission in life is being able to leave the public ed space and work at Seeds.
The School Building
In the fall of 2023, Seeds Academy opened its doors in the historic Marlborough Elementary building on Maine Street in Green Lane. With a lot of love and elbow grease, the building is coming back to life. Seeds Academy features standard sized studios (classrooms), a Maker's Space for art/experimentation, and outdoor spaces that allow for gardening and time spent in the woods climbing trees building forts. The building is also a half mile hike from a trailhead at Green Lane Park, which offers a variety of opportunities for both learning and play. The park is the centerpiece of our Summer Camp, where learners hike, fish, identify wildlife.
*Bussing is available for any learner that lives in Upper Perk SD or within ten miles of the school district border.
Why Start an
Acton Academy?
The heart of this project, as well as its name, are found in a classic children's book called The Carrot Seed. The simple goal is to create an environment where the learners are comfortable being themselves, supported in their academic pursuits, and encouraged in their curiosity. The Seeds Academy will focus on what heroes can accomplish when given the right environment and permission to be wholly themselves.
The simple theory is that a small school will be able to cultivate a tightknit learning environment that can allow for profound experiences in the school building, in the local community, and in the local environment. Our priorities will be critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, self-advocacy, and experiential learning. With just the right environment, full of love and nurturing, they will grow!
All Acton Academy schools are part of the Acton Network, which allows for the sharing of curriculum materials, project-based learning ideas, studio planning, and staff development for the Guides. As part of the International Association of Learner Driven Schools, The Seeds Academy will feature a digital curriculum to develop core skills, Socratic discussions to promote critical thinking, and other activities to promote problem-solving, spark discussions, and apply learnings through hands-on projects.
Rather than teachers leading the discussion, Guides facilitate learning by fostering independence, supporting troubleshooting and strategizing, and helping the learners maintain the classroom norms and contracts. Instead of grade levels, students are grouped in studios of mixed ages. There is an emphasis on play, passion learning, and exploring the world inside and outside of the studio. It is a learner-driven environment focusing on creativity, problem-solving, and collaborative discussions.
Acton Academy Mission
We believe each person who enters Acton Academy will find a calling that changes the world.
Promises
We promise through Socratic guiding and experiential learning to encourage each member of our community to:
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Begin a Hero’s Journey;
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Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery;
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Become a curious, independent, life-long learner;
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Embrace the forging of a strong character;
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Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life; and
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Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.
Beliefs
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We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.
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We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
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We believe in a closely connected family of lifelong learners.
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We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.
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