Linda Ryden is the creator of the Peace of Mind Program and author of the Peace of Mind Curriculum Series, a cutting-edge combination of mindfulness-based social-emotional learning, conflict resolution and social justice for Early Childhood through Middle School. Linda served as the full-time Peace Teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, Washington DC's largest public elementary, from 2003 to 2023 where she taught Peace of Mind classes to more than 700 students every week. Linda was also actively engaged in supporting her school's efforts to sustain an inclusive and equitable school climate.Linda is the author of seven mindfulness-based children's books published by Cherry Lake Publishing, Tilbury House and Peace of Mind Inc. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Parent, Washington Family, Teaching Tolerance, Edutopia, among others. Linda was a keynote speaker at the National Network of State Teachers of the Year conference in 2020 and a featured speaker at the National Education Association Foundation Symposium in 2018, and has received a Commendation for Educational Innovation from the DC Board of Education.Linda brings a passion for teaching peace and over 30 years of teaching experience to her work with children and adults. Linda holds a BA from Wesleyan University. Linda lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Jeremiah Cohen, owner of Bullfrog Bagels, their two children, and their dog Phoebe.