Meet the Founder
Melissa Redding is a character development educator, curriculum designer, and author of the Dior’s Discovery book series.
Her work centers on one core principle:
Capacity is built through character.
With a background in mentorship, literacy integration, and executive function development, Melissa founded Discovery Studio® to provide structured environments where girls cultivate character, strengthen communication, and build the internal capacity necessary to thrive.
Discovery Studio serves adolescent girls and complements Melissa’s broader work in character-based development across life stages.
Evidence-Informed Design
Discovery Studio is informed by research in developmental psychology and character education demonstrating that children’s long-term outcomes are shaped by the cultivation of self-regulation, social-emotional competence, and character.
When children are given structured opportunities to reflect, practice decision-making, strengthen executive function, and anchor growth in purpose and belonging, they cultivate the habits of sustainable, independent learners.
Representative scholarly influences include:
Bryson and Siegel, No-Drama Discipline (2014);
Simon, Building Student Resilience, K–8 (2020);
Yeager, 10 to 25 (2024);
Duckworth, Grit (2016);
Berkowitz and Bier, What Works in Character Education (2005).
Our Mission
Discovery Studio® exists to build capacity through the cultivation of character.
Through The Discovery Studio Framework™ and The Capacity Through Character™ Model, we equip girls ages 9–14 with the executive function skills, communication strength, and internal discipline that support academic, social, and personal growth.
Your Questions, Answered
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Discovery Studio is designed for girls ages 9–14 (upper elementary through middle school).
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Our programs explicitly integrate executive function skill development — including planning, organization, written expression, and self-regulation — all of which directly support classroom performance.
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Discovery Studio is structured around The Capacity Through Character™ Model. We focus on cultivating internal discipline and executive function systems, culminating in a Capstone Project-Based Application that demonstrates applied growth.
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Discovery Studio is character-centered and developmentally grounded. While its foundation is values-driven, programs are structured to partner effectively within public, private, and community school settings.
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Yes. We offer 4-week pilot experiences as well as extended mentorship and school-year partnership models.