The School Program Helping Kids Meet and Love Themselves

Emily Johnson · 2026-09-09

What if the most important thing we taught kids wasn't math or reading, but how to actually understand themselves? That's the radical question behind Peace in Schools, a program bringing mindfulness into regular school curriculum. I recently sat down with Executive Director Janice Martellucci to talk about it, and honestly, our conversation stuck with me for days. ### Why Mindfulness Belongs in Schools Janice doesn't talk about mindfulness like it's a nice add-on. For her, it's foundational. "We're not teaching kids to calm down so they can perform better," she told me. "We're giving them tools to meet themselves with curiosity instead of judgment." That distinction matters. A lot of school programs treat mindfulness as a behavior management tool. Peace in Schools flips that. The goal isn't compliance. It's connection. And the results speak for themselves. Schools that adopt the program see: - Fewer disciplinary referrals and suspensions - Students reporting lower anxiety and better sleep - Teachers noticing improved classroom climate - A measurable uptick in emotional regulation skills But Janice is quick to point out that metrics only tell part of the story. The real shifts happen quietly, in moments you can't quantify. ### The Idea of Inherent Wholeness Here's where things get interesting. Janice kept returning to this phrase: inherent wholeness. It's the idea that kids aren't broken and don't need fixing. They already have everything they need inside them. > "When a teenager realizes they're not a problem to be solved, everything changes. They stop fighting themselves." That quote hit me hard. Think about how much of our education system is built on the premise that students need correction. Grades, behavior charts, standardized tests. It's all about measuring what's wrong. Mindfulness offers a different lens. It says: pay attention to what's already here. Notice your breath. Notice your thoughts without getting swept away. You're already whole. You're just learning to see it. ### What This Means Beyond the Classroom Janice and her team train teachers to facilitate these practices, not as experts but as fellow travelers. That humility is part of what makes the program work. Kids can smell authenticity from a mile away. And the ripple effects extend far beyond school walls. Students who learn to meet themselves with kindness tend to: - Handle conflict without shutting down - Ask for help when they need it - Build healthier relationships with peers and adults - Carry these skills into college, work, and family life It's not about creating perfect kids. It's about equipping them for the messy, beautiful reality of being human. ### A Simple Practice You Can Try Today You don't need a formal program to start. Janice suggested something simple: the next time you feel overwhelmed, pause and ask yourself, "What am I noticing right now?" Not what you should feel. Not what you want to feel. Just what's actually here. That's it. No app required. No special cushion. Just a moment of honest attention. Because at the end of the day, that's what mindfulness is. Not a performance. Not a fix. Just a way of being with yourself, exactly as you are. And if we can give that to our kids? We've given them something they'll carry forever. To learn more about Peace in Schools and their work, you can visit their website.