Russell Coaching for Students

Executive functioning is essentially the CEO of our lives. 🧠

A CEO doesn’t do every single task—they manage the big picture: planning, prioritizing, making decisions, adjusting when things go wrong, and keeping everything moving forward.

For students, executive functioning works much the same way.

It helps them:
✓ Get started without constant reminders
✓ Remember assignments and deadlines
✓ Break big projects into manageable steps
✓ Manage distractions
✓ Estimate how long something will take
✓ Adjust when things don’t go according to plan

And here’s the important part: these aren’t measures of intelligence.

A student can completely understand the material and still struggle to manage everything required to do something with that knowledge.

Knowing isn’t the same as doing.

When a bright, capable student repeatedly struggles with the process—not necessarily the content—executive functioning may be part of the picture.

And those are skills that can be taught, practiced, and strengthened. 💙

The planner isn’t always the problem. And another app may not be the solution.

When a student has ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning differences—or a combination of challenges—there usually isn’t one organizational trick that fixes everything.

Why? Because the strategy has to fit the child.

With Connected Coaching™, we start by understanding the student—their strengths, goals, motivations, and barriers—and build strategies with them.

The goal isn’t just getting through this week’s homework. It’s helping students develop the skills to manage their own lives.

That takes relationship. Trust. And time.

If your child needs more than another “tip,” Russell Coaching may be able to help. 💙

🌟 Coach Spotlight: Meet Amy Pierson! 🌟

We're excited to introduce Coach Amy, one of the caring and experienced coaches helping students build confidence, strengthen executive functioning skills, and achieve their goals at Russell Coaching for Students.

With two bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Art, a master's degree in Counseling in Educational Settings, and more than eight years of experience as an elementary school counselor, Amy brings a thoughtful, encouraging approach to every coaching relationship. Her background in counseling, mentoring, and student support—combined with specialized training in the Russell Connected Coaching™ model and working with students with ADHD, autism, and anxiety—allows her to meet each student where they are and help them build skills for lifelong success.

Amy believes that growth takes patience, perseverance, and the right support. As she reminds her students:

✨ "Everything is hard before it's easy."
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A few fun facts about Amy:
🥾 Loves hiking, paddling, and mountain biking
🍦 Favorite thing to make: Homemade ice cream
🧵 Enjoys cooking, sewing, and making things from scratch
🏈 Pittsburgh Steelers fan
⚾ Philadelphia Phillies fan
🏔️ Favorite travel destination: Alaska

Join us in celebrating Coach Amy and the positive impact she makes in the lives of students and families every day! 💚

We’re excited to share that Dr. Norrine Russell will be a featured expert at the Raising Emotionally Healthy Neurodivergent Families Summit, happening online September 1–4!

Dr. Russell’s session, “Accommodations for School and Life Success,” will explore a topic at the heart of our work at Russell Coaching: helping neurodivergent students get the support they need to succeed not only in school, but in everyday life.

The summit brings together parents, professionals, and experts for practical conversations about emotional regulation, neurodivergence, parent-child connection, and creating healthier, more supportive environments for our kids.

The summit is completely free and online.

Register for your free ticket here:
https://summit.emotionallyhealthyfamilies.com/drnorrinerussell

We hope you’ll join us September 1–4!

Your child may not lack motivation. They may be overwhelmed.

“He’s so bright, but he just won’t apply himself.”

“She knows how to do it. She just doesn’t do it.”

“He could do so much better if he would just try.”

We hear versions of these statements from parents all the time—and they usually come from a place of concern. You can see what your child is capable of, so it’s frustrating when their performance doesn’t seem to match their potential.

But what if motivation isn’t actually the problem?

Executive functioning skills help students:

• Get started
• Plan and prioritize
• Manage their time
• Organize assignments and information
• Sustain attention
• Keep track of multiple responsibilities

A student can completely understand the academic material and still struggle to manage six assignments across six different classes.

That isn’t necessarily laziness. It may be a skills gap.

And skills can be taught, practiced, and strengthened.

So before asking, “Why won’t my child try?” consider asking:

“What skill is getting in the way?”

That shift in perspective can change everything.

If you're seeing this pattern in your child, Russell Coaching may be able to help.

💬 What would change if we looked at the problem through a different lens?

Have you ever wondered more about my podcast, "ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety: Breaking out of The Box" and whether it might be relevant for you? Please check it out—and let me know what you’d like to hear more about!

I’m currently booking episodes for the 4th quarter of 2026, and I’d love your ideas: topics, questions, concerns, books to discuss, schools or teachers to highlight, and experts to interview.
Self-nominations welcome!

If it relates to ADHD, Autism, and/or Anxiety, I want to hear about it! What would make you want to tune in?

The Podcast — ADHD, Autism, And Anxiety: Breaking Out of The Box — Russell Coaching Dr. Norrine Russell's podcast on ADHD, autism, and anxiety — stories, science, and practical strategies for parents of complex kids.

🌟 Coach Spotlight: Meet Anya Pham! 🌟

We're excited to introduce Coach Anya, one of the knowledgeable and encouraging coaches helping students build confidence, strengthen executive functioning skills, and achieve their goals at Russell Coaching for Students.

With a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics, a Master's degree in Education with a focus on Rehabilitation Counseling, and more than 15 years of experience in education, Anya brings a unique combination of expertise, creativity, and compassion to every coaching relationship. From science enrichment programs to private tutoring and coaching, she has spent her career helping students discover their strengths and develop the tools they need to succeed.

Anya loves working alongside students to create executive functioning systems and strategies that build confidence and support long-term growth. As she reminds her students:

✨ "Nine-tenths of education is encouragement."
— Anatole France

A few fun facts about Anya:
🏒 New York Rangers fan
⚽ Arsenal Football Club supporter
🛹 Enjoys skateboarding and rock climbing
📸 Loves photography and writing
🌍 Speaks French, Russian, and a little Italian
🐼 Loves pandas and giraffes
✈️ Favorite travel destinations: Santorini and Edinburgh

Join us in celebrating Coach Anya and the positive impact she makes in the lives of students and families every day! 💚

Executive functioning skills don’t look the same at every age—and neither should the support students receive. 🧠✨

From learning how to **start, stay, and finish** a task in elementary school to managing priorities, responsibilities, and independence as a young adult, executive functioning skills grow and change right alongside students.

At Russell Coaching, we meet students where they are and help them build the skills they need for **their next stage of development**—in school and beyond.

💚 From overwhelm to independence, one skill at a time.

Episode 38: Parents of HS Students, Don't Be Panicked, Be Informed | ADHD, Autism, And Anxiety: Breaking Out of The Box Summary In this episode, Carol Waldman shares her inspiring journey of supporting her son with autism through childhood, high school, and college, and offers valuable resources and advice for parents navigating similar paths. Key Words autism, college support, neurodivergent, parenting, college reso...

If anyone would like some updated Russell Coaching for Students cards and flyers for your school or office, please drop us a message here or by text. We are sending them out next week!