Why Students Struggle to Focus: The Brain Science Behind a Simple Brain Break

About the Presenters

Goldie Hawn is an Academy Award-winning actress, producer, director, best-selling author, and true children’s advocate. She is the Founder of The Goldie Hawn Foundation, a public charity dedicated to helping children build stronger, healthier brains and develop the skills to thrive in school and life. Goldie established the Foundation in 2003 with a vision of bringing neuroscience into classrooms to support children’s mental fitness and well-being. Working with leading neuroscientists, educators, psychologists, and researchers, the Foundation developed MindUP™, an evidence-based PreK–8 curriculum grounded in brain science that helps children understand how their brains work and develop practical skills to manage stress, regulate emotions, improve focus, and build empathy, optimism, and resilience.

Dr. Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl is an internationally recognized researcher and expert in children’s social and emotional development, mental health, and well-being. She is the NoVo Foundation Endowed Chair and Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. A former classroom teacher, Dr. Schonert-Reichl has dedicated her career to understanding how neuroscience, mindfulness, and evidence-based practices can help children manage stress, strengthen attention, build resilience, and thrive in school and beyond.

She is internationally recognized for her research on MindUP, examining its impact on students’ stress regulation, executive functioning, positive behavior, and academic achievement. She also serves as Chair of the Scientific Research Advisory Committee of the Goldie Hawn Foundation. With more than 190 scholarly publications, Dr. Schonert-Reichl brings decades of research and classroom experience to helping educators understand how the brain influences learning, behavior, and well-being—and how simple, science-backed practices can make a meaningful difference.

Cara Jacofsky is an educator with 27 years of experience dedicated to supporting student success and empowering fellow educators. As an Academic Intervention Teacher, she works with students to provide targeted instruction. For the past six years, Cara has served as a Teacher Center Site Coach supporting educators through professional learning, collaboration, and instructional growth. Cara is one of the lead teachers responsible for facilitating the MindUP curriculum, helping students develop mindfulness and social-emotional learning skills. Cara also facilitates professional learning with the National Academy for AI and leads professional development opportunities that inspire teachers and staff to enhance their instructional practices. 

MindUP, the signature program of The Goldie Hawn Foundation, helps children build stronger, healthier brains through an evidence-based approach grounded in neuroscience, mindful awareness, cognitive flexibility, and positive psychology. Since 2003, MindUP has helped students understand how their brains work and develop practical skills to manage stress, regulate emotions, improve focus, and build empathy, optimism, and resilience.

Designed for PreK-8 classrooms, MindUP combines a brain fitness curriculum, professional learning, and everyday practices like the three-minute Brain Break to help educators bring brain science into the school day. MindUP has reached more than 7 million children and 275,000 educators worldwide, helping build skills that support students in the classroom and throughout their lives.