Get ready to witness the launch of a Heroic Arizona’s groundbreaking local education initiative in partnership with the global vision of Heroic Public Benefit Corporation. On March 27, 2025, we’re bringing together educators, students, and community leaders to kick off a transformative movement that empowers Arizona’s next generation of heroes—starting with our schools.
What is Heroic Education?
Imagine a school where students and educators don’t just survive—they thrive. Heroic Education is a multi-year, research-backed program designed to build self-mastery, resilience, and purpose in middle and high school communities. By blending ancient wisdom, modern science, and practical tools, it equips students and faculty with the skills to excel academically, emotionally, and socially. From fostering antifragile confidence to optimizing energy, work, and love, Heroic Education is a game-changer—already proven to transform lives nationwide and now taking root in Arizona.
The Arizona Launch: A Local Vision with Global Impact
Heroic Arizona is launching with a bold mission: to bring this scalable, impactful model to schools across the state, starting with a free pilot program that expands into full school-wide adoption. This event celebrates the kickoff of our Arizona initiative, spotlighting our flagship program in Chinle, Arizona and emerging pilots in Montessori schools, middle school rites-of-passage programs, and Arizona State University’s teacher training networks.
Our work in Arizona aligns with Heroic’s global goal to train the leaders of 2051—today’s students—by empowering educators and embedding resilience, character, and leadership into school cultures. With a sustainable model ($100/student annually, plus faculty training and coach certification), Heroic Arizona is poised for compounding impact.
Event Highlights
- Keynote Speaker: Shaun Martin
Shaun Martin, a visionary educator and leader at Chinle Unified School District on the Navajo Reservation, will inspire us with his story of integrating Heroic Education into a culturally rich community. Supported by a $15,000 grant from the McIntosh Family Foundation—including a $10,000 scholarship fund for Chinle graduates—Shaun’s work is a proving ground for cross-cultural resilience training. Learn more about his talk here: Create Good Citizens: Grades Will Follow
- Panel Discussion: Voices of Transformation
Following Shaun, join an all-star panel of Heroic Arizona trailblazers:
o Jason Viyar: A West Point grad and elite coach, Jason has led Heroic’s national success, including a transformative program at Benedictine High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Students there saw GPA jumps from 3.0 to 3.54 and reported higher confidence and purpose.
o Tom Norwood: Senior Learning Consultant and Heroic Coach, Tom is co-leading our Chinle pilot with a focus on mental fitness and leadership for Navajo student-athletes.
o Gonzalo de Leon: Arizona-based Heroic Workshop Leader, Gonzalo is sparking excitement with a pilot at a Montessori middle school, where students raved about his heroic clarity and antifragile confidence workshop.
o Cristy Guleserian: Executive Director of Principled Innovation at ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Cristy bridges Heroic’s principles with ASU’s human-centered education vision.
o Stephanie Clerge: Heroic Arizona co-founder, Stephanie is reenergizing the 20-year-old Heroic Journey rites-of-passage program, creating synergy with Heroic Education in middle schools.
Spotlight: Chinle – A Model for Impact
Our in-progress program in Chinle, led by Shaun Martin with support from Heroic Coaches Tom Norwood and Adam Lugsch-Tehle, is a testament to Heroic’s potential. Starting April / May, Heroic mental strength workshop with the Chinle High School basketball team will lay the foundation for district-wide expansion by August. Backed by $5,000 of the McIntosh grant (with more funding needed for fall), this initiative blends Navajo traditions with Heroic tools, fostering resilience and leadership. Huge thanks to Tom and Adam for their groundbreaking work—read Create Good Citizens / Grades Will Follow.
Emerging Arizona Pilots
- Montessori Middle School: Gonzalo de Leon’s partial workshop was a hit, and we’re now planning a full pilot.
- Heroic Journey in Middle Schools: Stephanie Clerge’s partnership with this established program is a launchpad for Heroic Education.
- ASU Collaboration: Talks with Cristy Guleserian aim to integrate Heroic principles into teacher training, amplifying our reach.
Why Attend?
- Hear from Jason Viyar about the Benedictine success story—where students gained clarity, purpose, and a 3.54 GPA.
- Discover how Shaun Martin, Tom Norwood, and Adam Lugsch-Tehle are transforming Chinle schools.
- Learn how Heroic Arizona’s scalable model—starting with a 3-hour “Heroic Clarity and Antifragile Confidence Workshop,” followed by coaching and app access—can revolutionize your school.
- Connect with a movement that’s part of Heroic’s global vision to reach 10,000+ schools by 2030.
Be Part of the Change
The leaders of 2051 are in Arizona classrooms today. The time to train them is now. Join us on March 27 to celebrate Heroic Arizona’s launch and see how we’re supporting Heroic’s mission to change the world—one school at a time.
For more on Heroic Education’s research-backed impact, sustainability, and seven core objectives, check out the linked Appendix: Heroic Education. Together, let’s ignite a heroic future for Arizona!
Heroic Education Initiative
