A modern take on the timeless one-room schoolhouse model:

At Tej Acton Academy, our two intimate studios are intentionally designed to support the whole child. With smaller groups and mixed ages learning together, every learner is truly seen, known, and challenged. We begin with who the learner is becoming, including their character, confidence, and sense of purpose, while nurturing both academic mastery and emotional growth. Our weekly outdoor Nature Day on Friday deepens this experience. Time outdoors helps learners slow down, observe closely, build resilience, and reconnect with themselves and the natural world.

Equally essential are our guides, who are talented and caring professionals that model curiosity, integrity, and high standards. They do not lecture. Instead, they coach, ask thoughtful questions, offer support, and hold firm boundaries so learners can grow with courage and ownership. Their presence creates a culture where every child feels safe, respected, and inspired to take the lead in their learning.

Surrounding all of this is our close-knit parent community. Families know one another, support one another, and partner with us to create an environment where learners feel deeply rooted. This sense of belonging strengthens each child's foundation and makes the schooling feel like an extended family that is warm, connected, and intentional.

In a world changing fast, we pause to notice what makes us human: curiosity, courage, creativity, and integrity. At Tej Acton, children lead their own journey, growing into thoughtful problem solvers who know how to navigate an ever-evolving world and use technology with purpose and awareness. In this deeply human and personal environment, they grow as thinkers, creators, collaborators, and independent individuals with a strong sense of who they are. That’s what we mean when we say every child is a genius, each one on a journey to discover a unique calling that can change the world.

Our Location

Tej Acton Academy is located at 1 W Campbell Ave, L-54, Campbell, CA 95008
We are centrally located in the Silicon Valley between CA-85 and I-280 off of the CA-17 freeway

Our studios are at the Campbell Community Center (formerly Campbell High School), which offers wonderful amenities including:
• Access to after-school programs
• Sports facilities: outdoor track and field stadium, large fields, large playground, indoor basketball/volleyball courts,
  tennis courts, racquetball courts, skateboard park, swimming pool, indoor large and small gyms, weight room.
• The Heritage Theater
• Library
• Conference rooms

Our Team

Yang Gao

Co-owner, Parent

Yang brings over 10 years of leadership experience in education and the non-profit sector. Earlier in her career, she worked in finance and banking before dedicating herself fully to education and philanthropy. As a parent, she understands the importance of nurturing a safe, inspiring space where children can grow with curiosity, confidence, and purpose.

Yang is also deeply committed to connecting families in the learning journey, fostering a close-knit community where parents and children grow together. Combining her experience as an educational leader with her perspective as a mother, Yang is passionate about building learner-driven communities where every child can embrace their own Hero's Journey.

Yang holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Meera Shah

Co-founder, Parent

Meera is the mother of two beautiful daughters and is Co-Founder at Tej Acton Academy. She has earned her Teaching Diploma in Lower Elementary Montessori Education and a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy, which she practiced for 8 years.

Her passion for alternative methods of education comes from her twenty years of experience as both a participant and facilitator of youth discussion groups centered on cultivating strong character and human dignity.

She believes that along with academic excellence, education should also bring joy and develop leadership qualities such as strong character, clarity in thought and communication, and the ability to face adversity. Acton Academy's principles of deep respect for children and trust in their abilities resonated immensely with her, as did its Hero's Journey for each student to find their calling.

Sarah Siliznoff

Guide - Adventure Studio (ages 5-8), Parent

Sarah serves as the Guide for the Adventure Studio, bringing extensive teaching experience and a passion for student-centered learning to her work. She is also the founder of Hands On: Homestead, where she designs hands-on curricula that inspire curiosity, problem-solving, and a growth mindset. Sarah brings deep expertise in nature-based education, shaped by years of guiding children outdoors and helping them build meaningful connections with the natural world. She has extensive experience working on farms: leading children in caring for animals, tending gardens, understanding food cycles, and learning through hands-on tasks.

What truly sets Ms. Sarah apart is the magical way she cares for children. She has a joyful, attentive presence that makes every learner feel seen, safe, and valued. Children naturally open up around her: whether they are observing a tiny insect, harvesting vegetables, or exploring a forest trail—because they sense her genuine love, patience, and respect for their curiosity. As a mother of four, including two hockey-playing entrepreneurs, a gymnast, and a young learner at Tej Acton Academy, Sarah understands the learning journey from both a parent’s and educator’s perspective. She holds a B.A. in English from California State University, Bakersfield.

Haritha Govind

Guide - Discovery Studio (ages 9 to 13)

Haritha is the Guide for the Discovery Studio. She is an educator and researcher specializing in Social Sciences and Digital Humanities, with international academic experience spanning the United States, the UK, and India. Haritha brings expertise in creative curriculum design, K-12 teaching, and multimedia learning, using digital tools to make knowledge engaging and accessible. Born in Campbell, California and raised in California and India, Haritha combines her global academic background with a deep understanding of local communities. She has taught Humanities and Social Sciences to international high school students, assisted in undergraduate research, and developed interactive digital projects for collaborative learning.

Haritha’s academic background includes a Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from California State University, Fullerton, a Master of Philosophy in Archaeology from the University of Cambridge, and a B.A. (Honors) in History from Ashoka University. Passionate about student-centered and culturally sensitive education, she combines rigorous scholarship with hands-on teaching experience to inspire curiosity and critical thinking.

Ivan Batinich

Martial Arts Coach, Parent

“Guiding learners with discipline, respect, and resilience through martial arts.”

Ivan Batinich brings a wealth of experience, discipline, and passion to Tej Acton Academy. His journey as a professional athlete, winning the world's championship of mixed martial arts, has given him a deep understanding of resilience, focus, and perseverance - qualities he now passes on to the next generation.

As both a coach and parent in our community, Ivan understands the importance of creating a safe and inspiring environment for children to explore challenges. At Tej Acton, he leads learners through martial arts sessions that emphasize teamwork, respect, and courage - equipping them with life skills that extend far beyond the studio.

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.

Acton School Guide

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.

Acton School Guide