In today’s educational landscape, too often the focus is on teaching students to pass standardized tests rather than on fostering their growth as individuals and members of their communities. Heroic Arizona is taking a stand against this limited approach, launching an initiative that prioritizes character development, self-mastery, and purpose—because when we create good citizens, academic success naturally follows.

On March 27, we are hosting a groundbreaking event that brings together the philosophies of three visionary leaders who exemplify this philosophy: Shaun Martin, Chad Gestson, and Jason Viyar. Each of these leaders has demonstrated in their own way that when education is centered around community, culture, and personal development, students thrive—not just in their academics, but in their lives.

Shaun Martin: Integrating Navajo Culture into Education

Our keynote speaker, Shaun Martin, is an esteemed educator and leader from the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona. Shaun’s work demonstrates how traditional Navajo teachings—rooted in community, balance, and a deep connection to nature—can coexist with and enhance modern education.

“What’s awesome about our school is that we’re a public school, so we have all these state standards we’re required to teach. But instead of just drilling those standards into students, we take our culture as the centerpiece and build the curriculum around it. We use what they already know—their culture—to teach them about these standards,” Martin explains.

"This cultural integration builds a strong foundation of confidence and pride. Students who experience success in the classroom take that pride home, inspiring their families to embrace healthier habits and a growth mindset."

“When they come home with their chest puffed out, they say, ‘If I can do it, Mom, you can do it! Let’s start walking every morning. You make me run anyway, why not join me?’”

By focusing on the whole person—rather than just academics—Shaun has helped transform not only his students but their entire communities.

“When they’re successful at school, they’re taking it home and making their homes successful. That’s how you change communities. That’s how you change lives.”

Dr. Chad Gestson: Leadership in Action

Dr. Chad Gestson has spent his career proving that education is most effective when it is focused on developing students as individuals first. I first met Chad in 2011 when he was the principal of Camelback High School. At the time, I was promoting the idea of Conscious Capitalism, and Chad was completely open-minded to allowing me to bring Junior Achievement into the school with the Conscious Capitalism theme. His willingness to embrace this philosophy—building good citizens first, with grades naturally following—was in perfect alignment with his own leadership approach.

Chad later became superintendent of the Phoenix Union High School District, where he applied this same philosophy across more than 20 schools, proving its effectiveness at scale. Today, he continues this mission through leadership and education initiatives, ensuring that the focus remains on holistic student development.

Jason Viyar & Heroic Education: A Systematic Approach to Thriving Schools and Students

Jason Viyar has been leading the charge in bringing Heroic Education into schools. Most recently, he has introduced Heroic workshops to a diverse high school in Cleveland, Ohio, gathering compelling data on the program’s impact on students’ confidence and academic performance.

Heroic Education is a multiyear program designed to transform school communities by fostering antifragility, self-mastery, and purpose. The initiative addresses the growing need for holistic well-being solutions in schools, offering scalable and evidence-based programs that integrate seamlessly into existing curricula.

What Heroic Education Delivers:

• Daily Tools for Students and Educators: The Heroic Premium App provides practical tools to enhance focus, manage stress, and build purpose-driven habits.
• Customizable Programs: Integrated solutions align with academic goals while supporting holistic student development.
• Proven Outcomes: Schools implementing Heroic Education have seen measurable improvements in student well-being, academic performance, and engagement.

Bringing It All Together: The Heroic Arizona Vision

While Shaun Martin, Chad Gestson, and Jason Viyar each have their own unique approaches, they all share a common belief: Education should focus on developing good citizens first, and academic success will naturally follow.

• Shaun integrates Navajo culture and values to build strong, confident students who uplift their communities.
• Chad has demonstrated how this philosophy works at scale across an entire district.
• Jason and the Heroic team are implementing a structured, scalable system that can be adopted in schools nationwide.

This event is not just a gathering of like-minded educators—it is the launch of Heroic Arizona’s initiative to bring Heroic Education into high schools across the state. By learning from Shaun’s community-driven approach, Chad’s leadership in urban education, and Jason’s structured implementation of Heroic, we are building the foundation for a transformational shift in Arizona’s schools.

Join us on March 27 as we ignite a movement to create schools that don’t just teach to a test, but cultivate thriving, purpose-driven citizens who are prepared to succeed in school, work, and life. Together, we can redefine education in Arizona.