Over 20 years ago, Peace of Mind was created by D.C. teacher Linda Ryden with her students at Lafayette Elementary. What began in one classroom has grown into a movement. Today, Peace of Mind is in 50+ schools in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, 40+ states, and 6+ countries. We reach 15,000 students and educators.
We are more than a curriculum. Through partnerships, educator support, community-building, and feedback from youth and adults, we aim to create a culture of gratitude, kindness, and compassion by teaching the connection between mindfulness, brain science, and conflict resolution.
The need is urgent. Even before COVID-19, the CDC reported a 40% increase in youth sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Since then, the crisis has deepened.
Peace of Mind focuses on prevention, empowerment, and transformation. Our PreK–8 curriculum supports students in challenges and in joy. Well-being isn’t just for tough moments—it’s the foundation for a meaningful life. Our goal: help children grow into compassionate, resilient humans ready to care for themselves and create a peaceful world.
The growing interest in mindfulness and social emotional learning in schools is important and overdue. However, in many cases schools are teaching these skills for the wrong reasons. Kids need skills not just to regulate (e.g., calm) their emotions, but to understand and manage their emotions, connect with others, and approach conflict productively. To help our youth solve conflicts peacefully we must equip them and their teachers with mindfulness skills, an understanding of brain science, and a greater sense of the far-from-level playing field. Mindfulness practice has enormous benefits for children's personal well being. It is also a powerful tool to help recognize and reckon with systemic injustice in schools and communities. Metacognition skills help students investigate their own thoughts in order to uncover, examine and face implicit bias with compassion and curiosity, not shame and blame. By engaging students as leaders and helping them develop personal agency, we transform their lives and their schools.
Our work sits at the intersection of evidence-based SEL practice, teacher support, and student wellbeing. We have strong outcome data, deep school relationships, and a track record of growth.
Instead of delivering the program ourselves in schools, we provide effective, relevant curriculum and training to the educators who know their own students best. We keep our curriculum and training accessible and affordable, especially for under-resourced communities. We have grown largely through word-of-mouth among educators who see value and impact in their own classrooms and recommend Peace of Mind to peers. Partnering with district agencies, such as the Fairfax County School Counselors division who purchased curriculum and training for their team of school counselors, is another vehicle for growth. A digital platform, PoMKids, makes programming available to children, in and out of school, reducing barriers of cost and accessibility.
Originally conceived as a school based curriculum, we have adapted and expanded the program’s accessibility for multiple settings, including after school, summer, and Saturday school gatherings. A digital platform that supports more than 300 videos and a podcast expands access to home settings. Print storybooks have been re-envisioned as animated stories.
All curricular units have undergone both Spanish language translation and revision, adding new and more developmentally targeted content, as well as integration of American Sign Language. Teachers have found the expressive bandwidth of their students’ emotions has expanded dramatically with this kinesthetic addition.
A new high school curriculum is under development with guidance from current Peace of Mind middle school students and advisors.
The Peace of Mind website (https://teachpeaceofmind.org/) provides access to the Curriculum, including sample lessons and videos. Individual educators, schools, or districts may purchase individual components or school bundles of print and digital resources. We provide self-paced online training as well as in person + virtual training and launching support. In DC, we have demonstration schools where visits can be arranged and we host annual conferences, both in person and virtually to expand educator access.
We have an active social media presence and over 300 videos freely available via YouTube.
