Why Kids Need Mindfulness Before Algebra: A Conversation with Janice Martellucci

Emily Johnson · 2026-09-09

What if the most important thing we taught kids wasn't math or reading—but how to meet themselves with kindness? That's the radical idea behind Peace in Schools, a nonprofit bringing mindfulness into actual school curriculum. I sat down with Executive Director Janice Martellucci to talk about why this matters more than ever. ### The Problem With "Just Breathe" Lots of schools toss around the word mindfulness. A quick breathing exercise here, a calming corner there. But Janice is quick to point out that real mindfulness training is something deeper. "It's not about fixing kids," she told me. "It's about helping them uncover what's already whole inside them." That reframe changes everything. Instead of treating mindfulness as a behavior management tool, Peace in Schools treats it as a life skill—one that's intentional, evidence-based, and woven into the school day, not bolted on. ### What It Actually Looks Like So what does this look like in practice? Here's the gist: - **A full semester course** for high school students, taught during the regular school day - **Trained instructors** who understand trauma-informed practices - **Secular, evidence-based curriculum** rooted in real research, not trends - **Ongoing support** for teachers and staff, too The goal isn't to create little meditators. It's to give young people tools to notice what's happening inside them—and respond instead of react. ### The Ripple Effect Janice shared story after story of students who started sleeping better, fighting less, and actually asking for help when they needed it. One student told her that for the first time, they felt like they could "just be" without judgment. That's the thing about mindfulness. It doesn't just change the kid. It changes the classroom. It changes how teachers show up. It changes how families talk to each other at the dinner table. > "When we teach kids to love themselves, we're not just preventing burnout or anxiety. We're giving them a foundation for everything else." — Janice Martellucci ### Why This Matters Right Now Teen anxiety and depression are at record highs. Schools are stretched thin. Teachers are exhausted. In that context, adding one more thing to the curriculum sounds impossible. But Janice flips that argument on its head. Mindfulness isn't one more thing—it's the thing that makes all the other things possible. You can't learn algebra if you're in fight-or-flight mode. You can't focus on a test if your nervous system is screaming. "We're not asking schools to do more," she said. "We're asking them to do what they already do, but with more awareness." ### The Takeaway Here's what stuck with me: Peace in Schools isn't trying to fix broken kids. It's trying to remind them—and us—that we're already whole. That wholeness doesn't come from achievement or perfect behavior. It's just there, waiting to be noticed. And honestly? That's a lesson most adults could use, too. If you're a parent, educator, or just someone who cares about the next generation, start small. Ask a kid what they noticed today. Listen without fixing. Breathe before you respond. That's mindfulness too—and it ripples further than you think.