Cynthia Soto-Render, M.S., CPE is the founder and principal consultant of Restorative Mindset, LLC. First and always, she is the proud mother of three amazing children. With over 15 years of experience in early childhood education—from Head Start to leadership in public charter schools—Cynthia holds both a BA in Early Childhood Development and an MS in Early Childhood Education from Oklahoma State University, where she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education. A certified parent educator, Cynthia centers her work on creating space for authentic voice—especially for children and youth—in the systems that shape their lives.

Her work blends social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and literacy through coaching, consulting, and community-based research. Through Restorative Mindset, she supports schools and families in building responsive environments that prioritize emotional wellness, equity, and character development. Cynthia’s recent collaborations include literacy interventions with the Crutcher Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program and community-engaged research addressing Black reproductive health equity, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She also facilitated arts-based inquiry for “Beyond Apology,” Tulsa’s groundbreaking reparations process.

Cynthia believes in the power of reflection, purpose, empathy, and love to transform people, systems, and communities—from the inside out.

Cynthia Soto-Render is a 2022 grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Community Research for Health Equity program, managed by AcademyHealth.