The Model
At the HERO Performance Lab™, learning is not delivered—it is discovered, experienced, and earned. We are an accredited educational organization dedicated to helping young people develop the skills, habits, and character needed to thrive in school, leadership, and life. Through learner-driven education, experiential learning, mentorship, leadership development, and meaningful challenge, we create environments where young people learn to think critically, act with purpose, and lead with character.
Our approach is informed by research in educational psychology, human development, self-determination theory, constructivist learning, experiential education, and leadership development. Drawing inspiration from the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, Dr. William Glasser, and contemporary research on motivation, executive function, learner agency, and character formation, we design experiences that cultivate autonomy, responsibility, competence, and resilience.
Rather than controlling the learning process, we create conditions where young people take ownership of their growth, engage in meaningful work, solve authentic problems, develop confidence through challenge, and strengthen the habits that shape who they become.
At the center of our work is the THINK • ACT • LEAD™ framework and the Six Habits of Heroic Thinking™—Curiosity, Courage, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Confidence, and Compassion. Together, these principles help learners develop the capacity to navigate challenges, contribute to their communities, and pursue lives of purpose and impact. The framework, developed by the Lab founder and educational psychologist Josh Rigsby, is anchored by three core principles: THINK → ACT → LEAD
Develop the HERO Within™.
Ownership
At HERO Performance Lab™, learners are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, goals, and personal growth. Rather than relying on adults to direct every step, young people develop responsibility, initiative, self-management, and accountability through meaningful work and real-world challenges.
Our approach is grounded in research on learner agency, intrinsic motivation, and self-determination, showing that young people learn more deeply when they experience autonomy, purpose, and responsibility. Educators and mentors do not simply manage learning—they create environments that challenge learners to think critically, solve problems, make decisions, and grow through experience.
Over time, learners develop confidence, executive function, and the habits needed to think independently, act with purpose, and lead with character
Who is in charge of learning?
Growth
Growth rarely happens inside a comfort zone. At HERO Performance Lab™, learners are challenged to solve problems, tackle meaningful work, and persevere through difficulty while building strong academic foundations in literacy, mathematics, science, and communication.
Drawing on research in experiential learning and productive struggle, we believe deep understanding develops through action, reflection, iteration, and persistence. Rather than avoiding obstacles, learners are encouraged to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and develop the resilience that comes from doing hard things well.
Over time, they learn that confidence is not given—it is earned.
How does real growth happen?
Experience
Questions often teach more than answers.
At HERO Performance Lab™, learning is active, reflective, and driven by curiosity. Rather than relying primarily on lectures and direct instruction, learners are encouraged to investigate ideas, ask thoughtful questions, engage in discussion, and reflect on their experiences.
Influenced by the Socratic tradition, Montessori education, and research on metacognition, our approach helps young people move beyond memorizing information to understanding how to think. Through dialogue, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving, learners develop intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and the confidence to think for themselves.
We believe education should not simply provide answers—it should help learners ask better questions.
Guides, Not Teachers
Character
What kind of person does this produce?
Education is about more than what a young person knows—it is about who they become.
At HERO Performance Lab™, we intentionally cultivate the Six Habits of Heroic Thinking™: Curiosity, Courage, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Confidence, and Compassion. These habits are developed through meaningful experiences, real responsibility, challenge, reflection, and daily practice.
Influenced by research on character development, intellectual virtue, and human flourishing, we believe these qualities are essential for navigating an increasingly complex world. They cannot be taught through lectures alone; they must be lived, practiced, and strengthened over time.
Our goal is to help young people become thoughtful, capable, and compassionate individuals who are prepared to contribute, lead, and make a positive impact on the world around them.
Discover the HERO Within™
Learning at HERO Performance Lab™ is not simply about acquiring knowledge—it is about becoming capable, confident, and purposeful.
When young people take ownership of their growth, embrace meaningful challenges, engage in real work, and develop strong character, they gain far more than an education. They develop the habits, skills, and resilience needed to navigate complexity, contribute to their communities, and pursue lives of purpose and impact.
Our mission is simple: Develop the HERO Within™.