Through her years in education, Kristie Jones saw a need for a more personalized, relationship-driven approach to learning. Peace of Mind was built with a clear purpose: to carve out a space within the community where all students feel understood, supported, and able to grow. Over time, Peace of Mind has grown in response to that need.

After more than 15 years of teaching students of all ages across a variety of settings in and around Columbia, South Carolina, Kristie recognized that what students needed most wasn’t more pressure, but meaningful relationships, individualized support, and a place where they felt safe enough to truly engage.

In August of 2021, Kristie opened Soda City Peace of Mind, with the hope of finding a small corner of space where she could tutor students privately. Within a short time, a team of exceptional educators joined and together worked to create the beautiful educational community that is Peace of Mind. Sunnyside Academy, a private micro-school, now also exists as an extension of this original outreach. Together, these spaces reflect an approach to education that is relationship-driven, highly personalized, and grounded in the belief that quality education is possible, personal, and that all students deserve to be known, supported, and given the opportunity to learn and grow in their own way.

At the heart of everything she has built is a simple belief: when students feel safe, seen, and supported, they are capable of extraordinary growth.

Kristie holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is a National Board Certified Exceptional Needs Specialist (2017), a Certified Special Educator, Educational Consultant, and Certified Educational Advocate. Her work is rooted in both deep expertise and real-world experience, allowing her to thoughtfully support students with a wide range of learning profiles.

Kristie personally specializes in using a variety of intervention methods and strategies to support reading, written expression, executive functioning, behavior, and overall academic performance. She is especially passionate about helping students learn to advocate for themselves, better understand how they learn, and build the tools and confidence needed to access their education independently.

Outside of Peace of Mind, Kristie lives with her husband, Ben, and their children, Sofie and Jake. Sofie will graduate from the University of South Carolina in May 2026 with a degree in Musical Theatre Education and will attend New York University in the fall for graduate school. Jake is a senior at Heathwood Hall in Columbia and is a regular fixture at Peace of Mind, whether studying or working to maintain the beauty in and outside of the buildings. Their three dogs, Annie, Charlie, and Huckleberry, are also very much a part of the Peace of Mind community and can often be found welcoming students each day.

Growing the Peace of Mind community alongside exceptional educators, friends, and colleagues is a gift that fills her heart. She is deeply grateful for the Columbia community that has supported this vision and helped Peace of Mind become a distinctive and respected presence in education, where students are supported and inspired, families feel confident and guided, educators are empowered, and schools and other child-centered organizations are able to confidently partner with experienced, authentic professionals in the shared work of helping students grow.