Karoliina Nevalainen Hansten is a teacher and board member at the San Diegon Suomi Koulu (San Diego Finnish School). After attending the San Diegon Suomi Koulu herself, she became a teacher at the school in 2022. There are currently 14 official Finnish community-based schools in the United States. Her work with the House of Finland began in 2012, alongside the House of Pacific Relations International Houses promoting Finnish culture, language, and community. As an active participant in the Finnish community, she has continued to grow a love for sustaining “mother tongues” in the early childhood development years. Karoliina holds a B.A. from the University of California Santa Barbara and a California Teaching Credential from California State University San Marcos. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Development. She is also a Kindergarten teacher in the Poway Unified School District.