Mercedes Finstuen

Mercedes Finstuen is an educator, curriculum developer, and the founder of Mindful Foundations. Her work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, trauma-informed practice, and the conviction that love is the most powerful learning tool we have ever had access to — with a clear mission to reset the foundation of education from the inside out. Her foundational belief is that every child was created to learn, to thrive, and to shine, and that the classroom should be the place where that truth is proven every single day. Mindful Foundations equips educators with the neuroscience, the tools, and the heart-centered practices to create that environment for every child, regardless of their background, their history, or what they walked through the door carrying that morning. The results ripple outward — reducing behavioral dysregulation, strengthening teacher well-being, rebuilding retention, and closing the achievement gap from the root.