Meet the Team
Mindy Petramalo,
Head of School
Hello Magic Valley,
I have a love for learn-driven education and am excited to bring this type of education to the valley. With 5 children of my own, I can attest to the magic of real, retained learning through discovery and excitement and how this in turn fosters self motivation and
independence.
I have a Bachelor's of Science in Home and Family Living and a minor in business from Brigham Young University. I also have MANY extra credits from classes that I just couldn't resist; a couple favorites being genealogy, dancing, symphony (cello), sewing, rock climbing and skiing.
I'm a serial entrepreneur and consider this one of my favorite hobbies, even though my husband says it's not a "real" hobby. I started my first business at 8 years old and have run 7 businesses over the last approximately 28 years.
I love music; singing, playing the piano and cello, and jammin' to the radio. I enjoy dancing; smooth and latin ballroom and country swing. I actually married my latin competition partner. I have a wild side when it comes to snow and water sports. My first love in life was riding horses. It's true you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl. After living in the city for 17 years, I'm back in the country and love the hard, honest work of farm life. I LOVE traveling. My husband and I joke that this is the only thing we have in common. And finally, I love seeing my kids grow and develop. Although not always fun and games, it's so rewarding seeing them working hard, taking responsibility, finding their passions and starting their own adventures. With horses, barn cats, a 50-head rabbitry, along with a fixer-upper farm, there's not much time to be bored! I love the time we spend outside working and playing together.
Lisa Taitai,
Ignite Studio
Lead Guide
Hi Twin Falls,
I am a veteran in early education. Prior to joining Acton Academy, I spent 16 years running a home childcare and providing educational experiences for infants, toddlers and early elementary students. I also homeschooled my daughter, Morea, from elementary through high school. I believe rich learning happens when children are exposed to new experiences, challenged with new opportunities, and allowed to be curious and explore through hands-on activities.
Entrepreneurship is a deep and active passion of mine. I started my very first business, an at home child care, over 16 years ago, 3 months after giving birth to my only daughter. About 10 years ago, I decided I loved the art of Kettlebell Training. I took my hobby and made it into yet another business. In 2019, I began to think about how I wanted a business that wasn't service based and could hold up on it's own a little more than daycare and personal training. I decided to start a T-shirt business, printing and selling designs that a fellow entrepreneur had designed. I will likely never stop being an entrepreneur and encouraging others to turn their own passions into businesses.
I enjoy traveling and being active. When I'm not working, I am in the water -- paddling, swimming or fishing, or working out in my gym. Dusk and dawn are my favorite times of the day.
Hannah Benson
Spark Studio
Lead Guide
Hi Twin Falls,
I have a passion for the concentration and ability of little children. It is through strengthening a child's ability to concentrate, read and do basic math that they can accomplish anything in this world. I did my Montessori training through CGMS, but learning is continuous when working with children. My daily curriculum research drives me to build Montessori works that children crave. I have the honor of laying a foundation that will help children thrive the rest of their lives.
I decided on a bachelor's degree in Marketing Management. I love helping others with their marketing ideas. My dream is to be an acupuncturist. I plan on going back to school when my kids go off to college. I've been a starving artist, college student, done marketing professionally, sold insurance, CNA work, pursued dental hygiene, started a few businesses, traveled the world and want to have at least 4 different solid careers. I have such a love for learning and experiencing new things.
I was born with wanderlust. As a child I built teepees, ran through wild flowers and climbed trees in Alaska. My teenage years were full of camping and fishing. In my adult years I explored most of Europe in four months. I’ve explored a good majority of the United States, and parts of Guatemala, Mexico, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hawaii, and living in Saipan, Alaska, Utah, Chicago, San Francisco, Alabama, and Florida. I enjoy understanding new cultures and exploring new ways of life.
I've enjoyed years of yoga, meditation, painting, drawing, baking sourdough breads, making natural fermentation, preserving foods, cooking, hot springs, hiking and going on stroller walks with my boys. I love Twin Falls farming and family centric culture. I hope to raise my boys with an understanding of where their food comes from, with full hearted love for purpose and work ethic.
Gretchen Willmore,
Personal Trainer and Nutritionalist
Hello!
My name is Gretchen Willmore and I am a certified personal trainer and certified nutritionist. Health and fitness is my passion! Over the past few years, I have taught group fitness classes, provided one-on-one personal training, taught a Twin Falls community PE class, and provided nutrition coaching. I believe the best time to instill healthy habits is when you are young! Learning healthy ways to move and fuel your body while still young can create a foundation for a higher quality lifestyle throughout adolescence and adulthood.
Guest Speaker,
Community Professionals
Here at Acton, we believe each person is unique and has individual passions and skills to share with the world. Throughout the year, we will invite professionals from our community to speak to our Heroes about their professions and experiences. We feel this will help inspire, educate, and open pathways for the next generation of Heroes to find their callings in life.