Hi 👋 We're The Fragosos
We’re ordinary parents, just like you — parents who believe every child arrives on this earth with unique gifts and passions meant to be discovered, nurtured, and shared. We want our children to know who they are, to find purpose, and to build meaningful lives in a world full of distractions.
When we discovered Jeff and Laura Sandefer and what they were creating with Acton Academy, we knew instantly: this was what we’d been looking for.
At Acton, young people don’t chase grades or take endless tests. They take ownership of their learning — developing real skills and character through Learning to Learn, Learning to Do, and Learning to Be.
That’s what inspired us, like more than 300 other parent entrepreneurs around the world, to bring Acton Academy to our community.
If you believe your child deserves an education with meaning, purpose, and joy, we invite you to see how Acton Academy is turning learning upside down.
Sincerely,
Our Beliefs
We believe clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to the right habits, the right habits forge character, and character determines destiny.
- 1
We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way;
- 2
We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
- 3
We believe in a closely connected family of life-long learners.
- 4
We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.
Our Promises
We promise through Socratic guiding and experiential learning to encourage each member of our community to:
- 1
Begin a Hero's Journey,
- 2
Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery.
- 3
Become a curious, independent, life-long learner.
- 4
Embrace the forging of a strong character.
- 5
Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life.
- 6
Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.
Our Team
Salvador "Cus" Fragoso
Founder
Salvador "Cus" Fragoso is the founder of The Source Academy. He is an entrepreneur, author, and educator with over 15 years of experience building businesses, leading teams, and mentoring individuals across the United States and Latin America. He is also the founder of an Import & Export company operating between the U.S., Mexico, and other international markets.
Cus's journey into learner-driven education began as a parent of a 7-year-old son. His direct experience with Acton Academy, combined with his collaboration and hands-on involvement with Acton Leadership Academy in The Woodlands, Texas, deeply shaped his understanding of education, leadership, and community-building.
After relocating to Raleigh due to projects related to his book and his business, and recognizing the region as an area of strong growth and opportunity, Cus sought an educational environment aligned with the Acton model. When he did not find one, he decided to apply for an Acton Academy license in order to continue offering his son, and many other families, the opportunity to be part of this unique and powerful learning system.
Cus is a strong believer in building small, intentional communities where individuals can grow both personally and professionally. His vision for The Source Academy extends beyond the school itself, aiming to create a meaningful community that contributes positively to the broader Triangle area.
Our Advisors
Jeff Sandefer
Co-Founder - Acton Academy
Jeff Sandefer lives a dual life as an entrepreneur and a Socratic Guide. As an entrepreneur, he founded his first company at age 16 and went on to found or co-found seven successful businesses. As a Socratic teacher at the University of Texas, Jeff's students five times voted him the school's Outstanding Teacher and Businessweek named him one of the top Entrepreneurship professors in America.
Jeff went on to co-found the Acton School of Business, an MBA program perennially ranked by the Princeton Review among the best in the nation. In 2012 The Economist honored him as one of the top fifteen Business School professors in the world.
Jeff is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, where he served for over twenty years on the school's governing committees. He was a longtime director of the Philanthropy Roundtable and National Review magazine and one of the youngest members ever elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
Laura Sandefer
Co-Founder - Acton Academy
Laura lived on both US coasts and in between as a child, then settled into Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Science. After being awarded the highly competitive Walter Wattles Fellowship at Lloyd's of London, Laura worked in the aviation insurance industry in New York City.
Deciding to follow her calling into the world of education, Laura returned to Nashville and earned her Master of Education at Peabody College. This led her to her work at the Oklahoma Arts Institute, creating fine arts education programs for teachers and talented high school students.
Laura married Jeff Sandefer and is the happy mother of Sam and Charlie and step-mother to Taite. It is the inspiration of these children that led Laura and Jeff to co-found Acton Academy.
Her greatest hero is her mother who was a Master Teacher. Her wisest mentor is her father who sent her off to college with two words of advice: "Be curious."
Our Economic Model
We believe self-directed, peer-to-peer learner-driven communities built by our young Heroes will deliver transformational learning at a cost all parents can afford.
