Change is in the air
Sometimes, the universe sends me signs.
It happened when I met my husband. I was in college, recovering from a bad breakup. I was chatting about the sad state of my love life with a friend when he suggested that I should go out with Mike. I didn’t know Mike at all at the time. I knew who he was because we had overlapping friend groups, but we hadn’t ever talked or spent any real time together. Intrigued by my friend’s suggestion, I made a conscious effort to get to know Mike better.
My friend’s matchmaking was spot on. Mike and I hit it off and soon started dating. We’ll celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary in October. If my friend hadn’t suggested the compatibility potential, I don’t know that we would have found each other.
The universe sent me a sign.
Enter Executive Function
A couple months ago, I was deep into pondering what my next career move would look like. I hadn’t reached a serious level of existential dread, but I wasn’t far from it. Out of the blue, I got a text message from a friend and former colleague who asked if I was interested in becoming an executive function coach. She had a friend who was looking for someone, and she thought I would be a good fit.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term “executive function,” it refers to the set of skills that we typically need to get things done. These skills include things like goal setting, prioritizing, planning, organizing, initiating tasks (especially ones we don’t want to do), thinking flexibly, holding onto ideas, regulating emotions, and assessing our own work. Think of it as the brain’s operating system.
I’ve researched and presented on executive functioning interventions at conferences, and it’s a topic I’ve always been interested in. But I didn’t even know executive function coaching was a thing. She encouraged me to look into it and get back to her.
It was another sign.
Finding My Purpose
As I started researching this new career direction, I felt so many pieces of my work and personal interests coming into alignment. I remembered my work in the classroom with so many exceptional students and the interventions I designed to enable them to experience more success. Then there were the teachers I’ve coached on how to leverage technology to support executive functioning more effectively. And suddenly, all of the executive functioning adjacent podcasts I binge every week seemed to point toward a larger purpose than just getting myself organized.
This was the sign that I needed.
Executive Function Coaching Now Available
I am excited to announce that after much preparation these last few months, Building Savvy Learners, LLC is officially accepting clients for executive function coaching this fall. I have space for individual and group coaching for tweens, teens, and young adults. I’m also developing an online membership for parents and students to use together. All sessions will be virtual. You can click this link to learn more about each of those offerings.
Going forward, much of the content on Building Savvy Learners will focus on aspects of executive function or adjacent topics. I’ll still be talking about balanced technology use and best practices in teaching/learning, but my lens for explaining those topics will be a bit different. I’m also developing a YouTube channel, and I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone to start posting on TikTok.
Is an Executive Function Coach Right for You?
In the meantime, if you’re wondering whether executive function coaching might benefit your child, I’d encourage you to check out my free eBook, Does My Child Need Executive Function Help? It provides more information about executive function and the ways it can create pain points for young people.
I’m very much looking forward to this new direction for Building Savvy Learners. Weaker executive function skills should NOT be a barrier to success when there are so many great tools and strategies available to support students. I hope you’ll join me on this journey.
