At National Heritage Academies (NHA), a network of 100 charter schools serving 65,000 students across nine states, Chief Learning Officer Nick Sheltrown guides the educational philosophy of an organization committed to both academic excellence and character development. But the seeds of Nick’s transformative work were planted years ago, during a summer internship at the Acton Institute.
“The Acton Institute has had an outsized impact on my education and the way I think about the world,” Nick reflects. “While I know that learning is a lifelong journey, I think if I look back at my life, there have been these key inflection points that have really shaped how I think about the world, and my internship at Acton was certainly one of those.”
“The Acton Institute has had an outsized impact on my education and the way I think about the world,” Nick reflects. “While I know that learning is a lifelong journey, I think if I look back at my life, there have been these key inflection points that have really shaped how I think about the world, and my internship at Acton was certainly one of those.”
During his time at Acton, Nick was exposed to ideas that would forever change his perspective on education and society. He vividly recalls reading Leonard Read’s “I, Pencil,” a short story that illustrates the power of markets to create societal good. This introduction to free- market principles, coupled with discussions on educational freedom, set Nick on a path he never anticipated.
“I know I wouldn’t have taken my career into a school choice space had I not been an intern at Acton, had I not been exposed to the power of what markets can do in all these different areas,” Nick says.
After his internship, Nick embarked on a journey through the education system, first as a high school math teacher in both inner-city and suburban schools. The stark disparities he observed in resources and quality between these environments troubled him deeply, spurring him to seek innovative solutions.
This search led Nick to the charter school sector, where he found a way to apply the principles he learned at Acton to address educational inequities. Today, at NHA, Nick oversees an educational approach that emphasizes both academic achievement and character formation.
“We work with principals and other school leaders and teachers to impact kids each and every day, not only academically, but also their character,” Nick explains. “When J.C. [Huizenga] founded NHA, one of the pillars he was passionate about was what we call moral focus, where each month we take a virtue and make that a central part of the learning experiences for students.”
“We work with principals and other school leaders and teachers to impact kids each and every day, not only academically, but also their character,” Nick explains. “When J.C. [Huizenga] founded NHA, one of the pillars he was passionate about was what we call moral focus, where each month we take a virtue and make that a central part of the learning experiences for students.”
This focus on virtue aligns closely with Acton’s mission to promote a free and virtuous society. At NHA, values like integrity, respect, self-control, and compassion are woven into the fabric of daily learning.
“The values that we choose to emphasize are ones that resonate with our parents and probably anybody in society,” Nick says. “These kinds of things are, I think, the foundation of a civil society.”
Nick’s connection to Acton hasn’t faded over the years. He regularly brings NHA teachers to Acton University, recognizing the value of exposing educators to thought leaders who have deeply considered issues around education and society.
“What I love about Acton University is that you have an event where the purpose is really to promote a free and virtuous society,” Nick enthuses. “Our teachers come back not just entertained but changed in their thinking.”
As Nick reflects on his journey from Acton intern to educational leader, he has a message for Acton’s supporters: “In a world where there are fewer and fewer voices speaking for the values that Acton stands for, you’ve found a tremendous beacon in a rather noisy, crowded landscape.”
Nick’s story reflects the far-reaching impact of Acton’s work. From a summer internship to shaping the education of tens of thousands of students, Nick has employed the ideas cultivated at Acton to bear fruit, fostering a new generation of informed, virtuous citizens. Your support of the Acton Institute doesn’t just change lives—it shapes the future.
