Hello,

I am Chelsea Barrus, and this is my family.

I believe that every child has unique gifts and the potential to do meaningful work in our world. But too often, traditional education doesn’t provide the freedom, responsibility, or environment to discover that potential and role for themselves.

As a mother of five I have spent years thinking deeply about what education should look like for children—not just academically but as whole people.

Over time, I began searching for a different model—one that values curiosity, character, and ownership of learning. When I discovered Acton Academy I saw a vision of education that truly aligns with those values.

In September 2026, that vision became a reality.

Today, The Northwood is a small, intentional community of learners who are learning to take ownership of their education and of the community they’re building together.

Already, I’ve watched learners wrestle with hard problems, work through conflict, hold one another accountable, set ambitious goals, fail and try again, and discover that they are capable of far more than they realized.

The Northwood is still growing- and we’re looking for families who believe children are capable of extraordinary things when we give them the freedom, responsibility, and support to discover who they are becoming.