Nicole Bettis - Director of Education, Lower

Nicole joined Acton Academy at Serenbe in 2021, and was recently promoted to Director of Education for learners ranging from six weeks to six years old. In this role, Nicole will focus on coaching and developing guides to further implement the Montessori framework as well as overseeing the curriculum design and development aligned to Acton’s pedagogical philosophy.

Nicole has over 18 years of experience. She is a Positive Discipline parent educator and coach, an American Montessori Society (AMS) certified Early Childhood guide, a North American Montessori Center (NAMC) certified instructor, and holds multiple degrees including a M.A. in Clinical Psychology and a M.A. in Humanistic Psychology. Nicole is currently enrolled in the Harvard Graduate School of Education, obtaining her Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL) as well as the West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program, receiving her Montessori Inclusion Endorsement, an AMS special education certification. She will begin her doctorate of education (Ed.D.) in Montessori Studies at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2024. This program is the first of its kind, with Nicole being one of the first in the country to begin the degree.

Nicole began her academic career earning a B.A. in Psychology and a BFA in sculpture from the University of West Georgia. Afterward, Nicole combined her experience in the fields of creativity and developmental psychology by founding several art healing groups within the West Georgia community, primarily aimed at meeting the needs of young people.

Most interested in constructivist educational theories and inclusive methodology, she's found that the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori best serve the needs, and potential, of children in the world today. Early childhood literacy is also of particular significance to Nicole, with many of her educational projects being centered around the latest curriculum development in reading science.

Nicole is married and has two young learners enrolled at Acton. She likes to study Japanese and spend time outdoors in her spare time. At her home in Carrollton, her cuddly Husky Kodak is always by her side while she reads, knits, and identifies the birds outside her window.

Larisa Wilson - Director of Education, Upper

Larisa Wilson is an interdisciplinary educator with over 13 years experience helping students solve real world challenges. Her journey started as a researcher in chemical ecology and behavior at The Georgia Institute of Technology, where she built a successful research laboratory by creating a culture of undergrads that could lead the trajectory of the work. Following an M.S. in Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Marine Biology from University of California at Los Angeles, Larisa's passion for scientific research became overshadowed by her love for teaching youth how to solve problems.

In 2016, Larisa joined The Mount Vernon School's Innovation Diploma program, a 4-year "school within a school" model where learners solve real world problems with a focus on design thinking practices. The end goal of this program is for students to solve problems for external clients such as Chick-fil-a and Mercedes Benz, as well as nonprofits and local businesses. Since then, Larisa became known as the science teacher that transformed the middle and high school sciences at The Mount Vernon School.

Larisa has also designed and facilitated several courses rooted in Problem Based Learning, a student-centered approach to learning where students work collaboratively to drive the learning in order to solve an open-ended problem.

In 2023, Larisa joined Acton Academy at Serenbe as the Director of Education. She will focus on learners ranging from seven to eighteen years old, overseeing curriculum design and development aligned to Acton’s pedagogical philosophy for this age group.

Outside of work, Larisa takes great joy in being a mother to her three-year-old son, Dean, and nine-year-old step daughter, Blakely. She works alongside her loving husband to create a fulfilling and beautiful life on their property, Tommy Lee Cook Farm. Larisa is excited about the opportunity to live, work, and pursue her passions closer to home.