AUSTIN, Texas -- School may be out for many local students, but one former teacher is working on her lesson plans to continue her new class for the next school year.

Kellie Dowell spent 25 years teaching in a classroom, five years of which were at Matthews Elementary. She left her job last year to fit into a new role of teaching mindfulness.

"In the last 10 years, I decided to pursue my own interests in how to deal with stress and anxiety and figuring those things out and I stumbled upon yoga," she said.

Dowell returned to Matthews this school year and began teaching her new class. Over the school year, her class grew, and is now being taught in just about every class on campus. The students learn mindfulness through mediation. Dowell said this allows students to be in tune with their feelings, resulting in being kinder, grateful, and at peace.

"This practice that I do with children and adults on Mindfulness is helping people to realize their own inner power. Their own inner strengths and they can apply that to anything when they tap into it," she said.

Of course, the students love getting out of the classroom and spending time outdoors, but it's not all fun and games. Teachers say they also see the difference when students return to their desks.

"Just talking to them about relating to each other, and so we've been able to bring a lot of the things we learn here into problem solving and finding solutions to solve conflicts," said Kelly Bach, a third-grade teacher at Matthews.

Dowell said word about the class is quickly spreading. She's been contacted by other schools and the YMCA. Dowell will return to Matthews next school year to teach the class once a week. She is now being paid through a grant with the school.