Charlie Sutherland

Unified Mindfulness coach · early childhood educator

I've practiced Unified Mindfulness since 2009, trained directly by Shinzen Young, and I'm a certified Unified Mindfulness coach — teaching since 2013. Along the way, I've helped people apply mindfulness to manage work and family stress, process chronic pain, engage with greater compassion, break unhelpful mental and behavioral habits, and even sharpen athletic performance.

But most of my work centers on families and teachers — helping the adults in a child's life build and apply mindfulness skills in the moments that matter most: bedtime meltdowns, classroom transitions, sibling conflict, the daily friction of living and working closely with kids. When adults have a steadier foundation, children get more harmonious relationships and more room to grow.

I'm an experienced early childhood educator, and I've spent much of my career developing ways to weave mindfulness directly into preschool teaching — not as an add-on, but as part of how a classroom runs day to day.

The U School

I'm a founding teacher at the U School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a preschool community grounded in Ubuntu — the idea that I am because we are. The U School serves children ages 3–5 through project-based learning and a strong emphasis on social-emotional growth, and it's also been the lab where I've developed and tested most of my mindfulness methods before bringing them further out into the world.

Learn more about the U School

The U School Lexicon

In 2020 I wrote The U School Lexicon, a short guide to communication, empathy, and executive function — built for classrooms and homes alike. It gives families and educators a shared vocabulary for the skills kids (and adults) need most: things like Calming Power, Patience Power, and Perseverance Power, along with practical tools like the Bridge of Trust and the Domino Effect. The Lexicon isn't theory — it's language you can use in the room, in the moment, when a child needs help finding their footing.

Learn more about the Lexicon

Skillful Togetherness

Mindful Parents & Educators, my three-hour asynchronous introduction to the See Hear Feel technique for caregivers, is actually just one part of the Skillful Togetherness training series. Developed in partnership with Ubuntu Communities, it's meant for schools and other organizations that want their staff working better together — more in sync, less friction, more room for everyone to contribute. Offered in hybrid online/in-person formats, it gives teams practical tools to communicate clearly, work through conflict, and build a genuine sense of connection.

Learn more about Skillful Togetherness · Learn more about MP&E

"It deepened my understanding, like I had missing pieces to this big puzzle that were found here."

"This class was transformative! At a time in my life, with two kids under 4, I knew something needed to change and this class came to the rescue. I was struggling with a lot of newly developed anger that I hadn't experienced before, it was new territory for me. This class helped me focus on things with a whole new perspective. Charlie is a fantastic, clear instructor and I left each class feeling renewed."

"The class has definitely helped me to be more present and less reactive, both with the kids that I work with as well as my own kids who are older. It has definitely benefited me in my daily life. Even though it's been a few years since I took the class, I think about it often. I especially appreciate the fact that Charlie helped us to learn small bites of mindfulness…I use those regularly, and they have just become integrated into my daily practice. It feels doable and helpful, more manageable."

"The course was an introduction to mindfulness to me. It jumpstarted my meditation practice, which has helped feel more aware and grounded every day. One huge benefit has been increased patience and connection with my kids. My daughter and I practice mindful activities often, from mindful eating to mindful walks where we focus on listening and looking. It's a great way for us to spend time together."

"This has helped me for a lifetime."