Meet The Team
About
Our Journey
Once upon a time, there was a high school student who seemed to be doing everything right—earning good grades, following the rules, and checking every box. Yet inside, something was missing. She no longer felt curious. She no longer felt inspired. Like so many of her classmates, she was moving through school without the joy of truly learning, growing, or discovering who she was meant to become.
Instead of simply blaming the system, she asked a different question: What if there were a better way? What if young people in Romania could experience an education that nurtures curiosity, builds character, and prepares them for real life?
That question became the beginning of a journey.
She began exploring both traditional and alternative models of education around the world, searching for a school that would place learners at the center of their own journey. In February 2020, she discovered Acton Academy and attended an open house at Acton Academy Bucharest. It was a turning point—she knew she had found the kind of learning environment she had been hoping for.
The path was not easy. A year later, the dream of opening a school on her own felt overwhelming. But soon, her father, a close friend and mentor, and later another friend, joined the mission. What started as one person’s vision became a shared calling.
Together, they launched Acton Academy Timișoara in September 2021, alongside families who wanted to keep the spark alive in their children’s eyes. In those early years, she also served as an Elementary Guide for two years, helping shape the studio and walk alongside the first learners on their journey.
Now, several years later, she is grateful to see how much the community has grown. The team has expanded, more families have joined, and the journey continues—now with the joy of looking forward to the day when her own son will begin his Acton journey too.
Rebeca Crăciun
Co-founder & Lead Guide
I am the “young high school student” from that story. I may not be a high school student anymore, but I am still young, and I am still learning.
My academic background is in Computer Science, but over the years, my path has led me deeply into the world of education. I have tutored children from low-income families in math, taught Computer Science in a public school, volunteered in a school in Helsinki, and guided high school students as they prepared for the Baccalaureate exam.
Acton Academy Timișoara was born not only from a dream to reimagine education, but also from a very personal hope: to create the kind of school I would want for my own future children.
I believe that every child carries a unique gift—one that can change the world in a meaningful way. And I believe Acton is the kind of place where those gifts can be discovered, nurtured, and strengthened, while learners build the life skills, character, and courage they need to follow their own path.
Daniel Tiriteu
Co-founder
I am “the father” from the story and the father of two wonderful grown-up daughters! I believe our children today are far more capable than we imagine and they deserve an educational environment tailored around their unique gifts and passion. With extensive experience in Human Resources, I see the growing cry of our labor market for a new type of education for our young people. High scores in school tests are less and less important while being very well prepared in the area they are passionate about, being responsible, having creative and mature thinking, learning continuously, and having good business acumen are already the new standards.
My educational background is comprised of degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration (MBA), both acquired in the United States
Radu Druța
Co-founder
I have been interested in education since graduating from my first University in Timișoara in 2001. I realized that I enjoy interacting with people and learning together with them. When I discovered the Socratic way of learning I was thrilled and noticed it had results. I take great pleasure when I help someone discover the truth by using good questions.
Since becoming a husband and a father of three sons, I have started to ask myself about their education. I wondered how I could help them get a holistic type of education; how I could help them put into practice what they knew and how they could develop a good character based on healthy values and principles.
The challenge of taking part in developing an educational system close to what I want has come to the right moment. I am delighted about what I have found out when doing research about Acton and my children and I can hardly wait to start the journey!
Ana Fiț
Elementary Studio Guide
My journey with education has been a wonderful one, and like any great journey, it has been full of adventure, twists, and turns. It began in primary school, where an inspiring teacher became my role model. I wanted to write a book about him and then follow in his footsteps. I dreamed of becoming a kindergarten or primary school teacher myself.
As I grew older, however, my experience of traditional schooling became increasingly disappointing. I began to see the difference between passionate individual teachers and a system that did not truly nurture a love of learning — one disconnected from real life beyond the classroom. Practical responsibilities after university led me to step away from my childhood dream, though the calling never fully disappeared.
When I later had the opportunity to teach for a semester, I embraced it. I loved working with students, yet realised that a formal setting was not where I could thrive. I simply hadn’t found another path — until 2015. That’s when I discovered alternative educational approaches through an international Erasmus+ training on storytelling as a learning method. I fell in love with non-formal education and became a certified trainer that same year.
Since then, I have spent more than 10 years working in the field as a trainer, youth worker, and facilitator. During this time, I created my own programs, as well as learning experiences for schools, NGOs, after-school clubs and learning centres. My work has included various age groups, from children aged 3 to teenagers and adults. My specialties are art-based (theatre, storytelling, visual arts) and nature-based methods. Additionally, I have a formal education in marketing (Bachelor’s degree) and advertising (Master’s degree), and worked in this field for 10 years.
As a guide at Acton, I use my creativity and lifelong love of learning to nurture learners’ curiosity and empower them. I am extremely proud to be part of the most innovative learning environment in Romania and to contribute to the flourishing of a future generation.
Dariana Hînda
Elementary Studio Guide
I have always loved working with children—whether preparing them for exams, guiding them in extracurricular projects, or encouraging them to think outside the box. Teaching has always been more than a career choice for me; it is a calling that combines creativity, patience, and a deep belief in every child’s potential. Over the years, I have sought out opportunities to inspire curiosity and confidence in young learners, helping them see challenges as opportunities for growth.
My degree in linguistics, along with my background in education, has given me both the knowledge and the tools to support learners on their path. I also had the chance to experience traditional schools, where I gained valuable insight into how children learn best. Those experiences showed me the importance of combining structure with freedom, and they led me to seek an environment where children could grow not only academically but also as independent, responsible, and compassionate individuals.
At Acton, I found that environment. Here, learners are trusted and respected, encouraged to take ownership of their journey, and supported in discovering their unique passions. As a mom, I see every day how powerful this approach is—how it helps children build resilience, creativity, and character. I am grateful to be part of a community that empowers young people to become the very best version of themselves and honored to help offer this opportunity to other families.
Jeff Sandefer
Advisor & Acton Academy Austin co-founder
Jeff is an entrepreneur and a Socratic teacher. As an entrepreneur, he began by starting his first company at age 16 and most recently sold Sandefer Capital, an energy investment firm with several billion dollars in assets. As a teacher, he cofounded the Acton School of Business, a school dedicated to America’s next generation of principled entrepreneurs and famous for its 100-hour workweeks.
The Princeton Review has consistently ranked Acton’s teachers, students, and program among the best in the country. While at the University of Texas, Jeff’s students voted him the school’s Most Outstanding Teacher five times, and he was named by Businessweek as one of the top entrepreneurship professors in America. He also co-founded Acton Academy (Austin), where he is a middle school lead guide.
Laura Sandefer
Advisor & Acton Academy Austin co-founder
Laura is co-founder and head of school of Acton Academy (Austin). Raised by a science teacher and minister, Laura lived on both coasts and in between as a child and then landed at Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Science.
After working in London and New York City in the aviation insurance business, Laura yearned to follow her heart into the world of teaching. She went back to Vanderbilt’s renowned Peabody College and received her Master of Education. This led her to work in arts education at the Oklahoma Arts Institute. Laura later married Jeff Sandefer and has two sons and a stepdaughter. It is the inspiration of these children that led Laura and Jeff to co-found Acton Academy.