About HBL
In a world in which most curricula follow a rote teach-memorize-test system, Heart Bright Learning (HBL) takes a fresh approach to heart and mind education by aligning human development with instructional design to promote continuous improvement.
All of HBL’s resources integrate observation, reflection, and expression. Our materials teach social-emotional learning, learner-centered problem solving, and idea-forward explorations.
Our literature-based approach, which inspires imagination, exploration, and self-expression through structured practice, has been shown to significantly improve listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills among both challenged and gifted students from a diverse range of cultural and language backgrounds.
Jon Madian, an educational psychologist, and his wife, Karen Jostad Madian, an instructional designer, have developed more than 100 reading, writing, and process-based programs for print and software throughout their careers. Their 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild continue to fuel their commitment to enriching education.
Today, through Heart Bright Learning, they are helping parents and teachers reimagine education for the 21st century by developing resources that inspire and empower children to understand themselves, others, and their world through observation, reflection, and process-based learning.
Social Emotional Learning at the Heart of HBL
"At Heart Bright Learning, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is not an add-on. It is the foundation. We believe that nurturing emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness is as essential as building academic skills. SEL helps children understand themselves and others, develop respectful relationships, and approach challenges with resilience and creativity.
Our resources weave SEL into every lesson, story, and activity. Students are encouraged to pause and reflect, express their thoughts with confidence, and listen with openness. Through literature-based explorations, guided discussions, and collaborative problem solving, children practice the skills they need to manage emotions, set positive goals, and make responsible decisions.
By integrating SEL with literacy and creative thinking, HBL helps students not only become better readers and writers, but also more thoughtful, compassionate, and capable human beings, ready to thrive in an interconnected world."
Meet Our Team
-
Jon Madian
authored a number of children’s books and hundreds of curriculum resources. Scholastic, McGraw-Hill, IBM, Apple and Highlights Magazine have featured his children’s stories and poetry. Jon founded and led the Artist-in-Residence Reading Project in the inner city of Los Angeles. The U.S Department of Education, the California Arts Council and several foundations funded his creative work and research.
-
Karen Jostad-Madian
managed instructional design teams that produced award-winning educational software such as the broadly used Oregon Trail Simulation. She has a keen interest in process-based learning in Science and Language Arts and has produced instructional and training materials for several publishers and state and federal agencies.
-
Julie Anne Ikenberry
is an educator, writer and illustrator. Julie has a tricultural background-raised in Kenya, educated in theater and Montessori education in England and lived most of her adult life in the United States. She is devoted to Montessori and founded and led several schools.
-
Joe Garoutte
wears many hats. His most recent one, audiovisual director and technician, was a pivot when the pandemic shut down live theatre. His production company, Big Britches Productions, continues with live theatre and audio/video projects of all scales today. He has won multiple Telly awards, directed sold-out live shows and lives a life of gratitude and abundance.
-
Jyoti Kumta
taught and counseled in many schools throughout India. She also worked in the corporate sector as a behavioral assessor but soon realized that her heart lived in schools, especially in Value Education and Social Emotional Learning. She works freelance as a teacher coach looking for every opportunity to integrate Value Education into the school curriculum.
Our Story
The Start of Journey
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
-
2018
Initial Service Offerings
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam eget augue sed enim pharetra aliquet. Suspendisse potenti. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Maecenas maximus mauris sodales lectus condimentum tincidunt. Maecenas sit amet elementum purus, sed consequat est.
-
2020
Expansion of Services
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam eget augue sed enim pharetra aliquet. Suspendisse potenti. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Maecenas maximus mauris sodales lectus condimentum tincidunt. Maecenas sit amet elementum purus, sed consequat est.
-
2022
Sample Title
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed euismod, nulla sit amet fermentum pulvinar, nunc arcu faucibus nisl, sed congue ligula sapien ut orci.
-
2025
Sample Title
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed euismod, nulla sit amet fermentum pulvinar, nunc arcu faucibus nisl, sed congue ligula sapien ut orci.
