Our Mission
OUR BELIEFS
- We believe each child has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.
- We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
- We believe our learning environment is a closely connected community of lifelong learners.
- We believe in a society in which people live a life of meaning according to their deepest beliefs and who take responsibility for their actions.
OUR PROMISES TO YOUR CHILD
You will:
- Develop a Hero's Journey.
- Enhance your curiosity and love of learning.
- Discover your unique gifts along with the dedication it takes to develop excellence.
- Understand the importance of a strong character.
- Experience the arts, the wonders of the physical world, and explore the mysteries of life.
- Celebrate economic, political, cultural and religious freedom.
Our Team
Tracey Howard, Lead Guide, Discovery & Explorer
Tracey Howard is the Lead Guide for Discovery and Explorer studios. Prior to Acton, she ran a private coaching company and coached hundreds of high-growth entrepreneurs. She is an internationally certified coach with the International Coach Association, has a Masters in Public Policy, and specializes in conflict resolution. Tracey is the Co-Owner and Head of School at Acton Academy Curaçao.
Shira de Koning, Spark Guide
Shira joined our team in Spring 2025. With a background in nature education, Shira was a manager at a nature center for Staatsbosbeheer in the Netherlands, where she created engaging, seasonal activity programs for children, organized nature-inspired birthday parties, and led outdoor educational adventures. Everything she did centered around connection — to nature, to each other, and to joyfully learning by doing.
Bo van Otterdijk, Spark Guide
Bo joined our team in Fall 2025. Prior to that, she spent three years working in a Montessori daycare, where she learned firsthand how much learners grow when they're given trust, space and a prepared environment. She studied pedagogy management child and education and has a background in kindergarten. Those years shaped her love for child-led learning, independence and creating places where learners feel safe to explore. She believes a well prepared environment quietly does most of the guiding and she loves watching learners discover what they're capable of, and seeing their confidence grow as they do.
Seeking Two Guides for 2026
Our location is growing quickly with amazing families and children. Soon we will be posting two job descriptions for an Assistant Guide in Spark Studio and a Guide for our Explorer Studio. If you're interested to learn more, please email Tracey at tracey@actoncuracao.com
About The Co-Owners
Tracey & Chris Howard
Hello, we are Tracey and Chris Howard! We are the co-owners of the Acton Academy Curaçao location established in 2024. In the last few years, we've been on a Hero's journey that has brought us here.
Tracey is an American and was private coach and facilitator for entrepreneurs and executives. Chris is English-German and a strategy consultant in the education sector and day trader.
We are parents to two boys, Liam (2019) and Henry (2020). In 2020/21, we moved from London to Germany and then to Curaçao. After two years, we decided to call Curaçao home.
We knew we weren't going to send our boys to a traditional school but weren't sure what to do. It was after we discovered the Acton Academy learner-driven model in 2022 that we knew it was exactly the educational pathway we wanted for our children.
Since an Acton Academy didn't yet exist in Curaçao - we felt called to open one ourselves. We are doing this for all families who believe every child is a genius who deserves to find a calling that will change the world. Thanks for exploring us!