HeartMath Interview Features Stress Management Science at MAS Charter School

Mission Achievement Success (MAS) Charter School is featured in a new HeartMath Institute interview, and we’re eager to share some highlights here on the MAS Blog. HeartMath’s Director of Education, Jeff Goelitz, sat down with our founder and CEO, JoAnn Mitchell, Ed.S., to talk about how MAS is charting a unique course for students and staff in Albuquerque.

Raising The Bar in a Title I School 

In the interview, Mitchell explains how MAS, a Title I K–12 school with about 2,200 students, is consistently outperforming the state in academic achievement by double digits. She shares that most of our students are economically disadvantaged and many start below grade level, yet they make remarkable gains through a mix of:

• High expectations and academic rigor
• Strong teacher support backed by world-class professional development
• A culture that honors social-emotional learning and mental health as part of how learning happens

Mitchell also talks about our unusually high teacher satisfaction and retention. MAS has created a culture where staff have practical tools to manage stress, communicate clearly, and resolve tension before they become problems. When educators tell us they are not aligned with that culture, we assist them in finding a better fit elsewhere. The result is a healthier environment for both adults and students alike.

Why HeartMath Matters at MAS

In the conversation, Mitchell describes how MAS Charter School weaves social-emotional learning together with science-based practices that help students and staff regulate their emotions and stay focused. MAS Charter School is proud to be among the first schools in New Mexico to introduce HeartMath — a groundbreaking approach to stress management, emotional regulation, and cognitive focus.

Here are some of the ways this shows up on our campus:

• Leadership meetings start with coherence practice: Staff learn how the heart, brain, and nervous system work together, and how simple breathing and focus techniques can reset their energy.
• Teachers are trained first, then students: All instructional staff receive HeartMath Coherence Advantage training and experience the practices themselves before bringing them into classrooms.
• Students use Inner Balance™ technology: Beginning in the upper grades, students work with devices that give real-time feedback on their coherence levels. Over time, this turns emotional regulation into something they can see, practice, and improve.
• Discipline is trauma-informed and heart-centered: Staff use breathing and coherence skills to help students calm down before problem-solving. Conversations focus on reflection and growth, supported by programs such as the teachings of the Choose Love Movement and daily social-emotional learning.

Throughout the interview, Mitchell emphasizes that these practices are focused on equipping students and adults with lifelong tools to handle stress, stay present, and learn at a higher level. They are not “feel-good” moments. 

A Glimpse into the Interview

Here’s a short excerpt from the first question and answer, to give you a feel for the conversation:

Jeff Goelitz: A big hello, JoAnn. It’s good to be with you. I talk regularly with educators and what comes up frequently is how students are increasingly ill-equipped to learn. The downward trend in academic achievement shows that, but also shows the very impactful results from student mental health issues, post-pandemic. Your school is bucking that trend with astronomical gains in academics. What explains that?

JoAnn Mitchell: We have made big academic gains. We continue to outperform the state by at least between 10 and 20 percent, and we’re a Title 1 school with most of our 2200 students economically disadvantaged. And that’s K through 12. Then we have great teacher retention, and our teacher satisfaction was the best it’s ever been this year. Our culture supports these gains. And you’ll see more happening this year, very specific to a deep intentional implementation of HeartMath.

Read The Full Interview

Mitchell’s interview with the HeartMath Institute offers a look at how MAS is rethinking what school can feel like for students and staff. Read the full conversation with JoAnn Mitchell on the HeartMath website in order to dive deeper into our partnership by using the link below:

An Interview between Jeff Goelitz, Director of HeartMath Education, and JoAnn Mitchell, Founder/CEO of Mission Achievement Success Charter School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.