We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carrie Turner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carrie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the best (or worst) investment you’ve made. What’s the backstory and the relevant context behind why you made the investment

The best investment I ever made wasn’t financial. It was deciding to bet on my children. Our family. The community around them. The world they will live in now and in the future. Creating a space where children could discover who they are. It’s taken longer and cost more than I expected, but every day, I see glimpses of what it’s building: confident, curious, grounded kids. And that return is beyond numbers. Sometimes I even think….I may not sit under the shade of the tree I am growing, but I am ok with that as well.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started Acton because of my son.

When he was seven, he wasn’t thriving in school. His spark, that natural curiosity and joy, was fading. After testing with a private organization, we learned he was in the top 3% of intelligence for his age. It confirmed what I already felt in my gut. The gifts God placed in him needed room to breathe, and the system he was in simply wasn’t made for the way he learns and thinks. I could see his light dimming. And as a mom, that was heartbreaking.

Years earlier, when he was four, I had toured eleven different schools looking for something that fit. That’s when I first discovered Acton Academy. I remember thinking, “Someone should start one of these here.” I never imagined that someone would be me.

Acton isn’t your typical school It’s a place where children learn to think for themselves, work hard for what matters, and build confidence through real experiences. Instead of being told what to do, they get to take ownership of their learning. Setting goals, solving problems, and even holding each other accountable.

It’s not about grades or busywork. It’s about curiosity, courage, and purpose. Kids at Acton learn how to learn, how to work with others, and how to take responsibility for their choices. Skills they’ll use for life.

As a mom, what I love most is watching them come alive again. Seeing that spark come back when they realize they’re capable of so much more than they thought. It’s not always easy, but it’s real, and that’s where the growth happens.

Before Acton, I spent nearly a decade running three event businesses. Creating experiences, solving problems, and building ideas from the ground up. I’ve always loved the entrepreneurial mindset and Acton captures that perfectly. It’s not just a model of education; it’s a way of life that fits families who value freedom, creativity, and growth.

Acton’s framework focuses on mindset and ownership over academics alone (though Acton students often test three to four grade levels ahead). The only real limits are the ones they believe in and learning to overcome those limits is what changes everything.

This journey has been as transformative for me as it has been for my children. Acton has reminded us both that learning and living is meant to be full of purpose and curiosity.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy I’ve found for growing our community and truly connecting with families….is being vulnerable.

We talk so much about the growth mindset with our learners, but I’ve realized it matters just as much for us as adults. I try to model it as a mom, a guide, an owner, and someone grounded in my faith by being honest that I don’t have it all figured out.

I tell parents “I will coach and mentor your child, but I will also mess up. We’ll learn together.” That’s what growth actually looks like.

When families see that, they don’t just enroll in a school. They join a community that’s real, humble, and committed to growing side by side.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Unlearning has been a big part of my journey: as a mom, a guide, and an Acton owner.

I had to unlearn the idea that growth should look neat, linear, and measurable. For years, I thought progress meant control. Clear plans, predictable results, tidy outcomes. But Acton has taught me that real growth, for both kids and adults, is messy. It happens through struggle, mistakes, and the courage to keep showing up anyway.

When I first started Acton, I thought I was building a school for my child. In many ways, I was. But it’s also been a school for me. A place where I’ve had to unlearn perfection, embrace curiosity again, and let go of the need to have all the answers.

That unlearning has made me a better mom, a better mentor, and a better human.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.actongreenville.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actongreenville/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Acton-Academy-Greenville-100095067882339/