Events for Parents

Virtual & In-Person Sessions

You’re invited to join us for a series of FREE events designed to support parents in navigating the unique challenges that come with executive function skill construction. Gain tools, insights, and encouragement from trusted professionals in the field.

🗓 Upcoming Sessions

Can AI be a Study Tool?

Wednesday, April 22 | 12-12:45pm | Virtual Event

Learn appropriate and effective ways AI can work as a study tool to enhance your student’s retention. Julia Franklin is the Chief Learning Officer at Cephable, an AI software company advancing voice and creative automations to expand digital access and productivity. With over 20 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), business owner, mentor, and educator, she has built a career that bridges human connection and technology. Her approach centers curiosity, belonging, and creative problem-solving. Her work consistently pushes the boundaries of traditional roles using innovation to create environments that support shared growth, practical skill-building, and collective momentum.

Julia Franklin | Cephable.com

 

Freshman Year Framework

Sunday, May 3 | 4-5:00pm | Virtual Event

A frank discussion about College Readiness.

Guests: Natalie Williams, Executive Function Coach & Adjunct College Instructor, Dr. Catherine Sherrard, Executive Function Coach and former College Administrator and Rachael Barron, Founder of Effective Students®.

In this session, we’ll explore:

  • What students truly need to succeed in their first year
  • How executive function skills make college transitions smoother
  • How to start building readiness before the first semester begins

 

 

More free sessions coming soon!

Registration Form

💻 How it works

 

  • All sessions are virtual — unless otherwise noted.

  • Lunch & Learns run over lunch hour (12:00–12:45 pm EST) unless otherwise noted.

  • Each event includes time for Q&A.

👉 RSVP Required: Please register in advance to receive the Google Meet link.

✨ We look forward to learning and growing with our parent community!

Frequently asked questions

What are Executive Function Skills?

Sometimes referred to as ‘self-management skills’, executive functions refers to a wide range of cognitive abilities affecting planning and executing, memory, critical thinking, and one’s ability to exercise self-control. These abilities are considered essential to function throughout school, work, and everyday life. Students who struggle with executive function may have difficulties starting or stopping tasks, focusing and following directions.

What is an Executive Function Coach?

Great question! An academic coach or an executive function coach works alongside a student to help them apply self management steps (organization/time management/planning and prioritizing) their  current academic demands. Students learn by doing so a coach creates an situation where they work WITH a student, not does not do the planning FOR the student.

How does Effective Students help focus on studying?

The Effective Student™ Method helps students identify and eliminate everyday distractions that are especially pervasive in today’s virtual world.   Students learn to improve when they become aware of what is hindering them, learn and apply steps to improve, practice those steps and receive feedback.  Simple organizational strategies simplify finding resources, can reduce stress or how taxed their working memory is for a given set of steps.  We work with each student to find winning strategies, building better study habits that last a lifetime.

How do I as a parent engage in the coaching process?

Parents are an integral part of the coaching process.  We invite parents email their coach with any observations or concerns prior to a session so the coach can address them timely.  We also invite parents to return for the last few minutes of each coaching session for the student to share what they’ve learned and what they will be working on in the coming week.  Periodic check ins with coaches are common throughout the month.

What does EF coaching look like in practice (planning, execution, accountability)? 

Typically students come 1-2x per week for sessions.  After the initial consultation where we assess fit and goals, the next 3-4 sessions are instructional and application based. Skill  gaps are exposed through these lessons in an emotionally neutral and metacognitive way.  The goal is to close the gaps rapidly by 1) teaching process 2) making it simple and 3) turning the dial to enhance performance.  Lessons are 10-15 minutes followed by application to the student's current demands.  Students learn best by doing.  Our process is 1) I do it, you are with me, 2) you do it, I am with you 3) you do it alone.