Our Executive Function Coaches

See Our Work in Action
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Backgrounds and Training that Families Trust

At Beyond BookSmart, all of our coaches have master’s degrees (or equivalent) or higher and have rich and varied backgrounds. Most are current or former special education teachers, speech and language pathologists, classroom teachers, or school psychologists. All have experience working one-to-one with students.

Our Qualification Process

  • Our coaches understand the importance of trust when working with children and teens. Prior to being hired, all coaches undergo extensive background checks, multiple interviews, and a written assessment.

  • Our coaches are trained experts in Executive Functioning and how to best meet the unique needs of students with ADHD, as well as students with a variety of different learning styles and challenges.

  • After our highly selective hiring process, coaches complete rigorous proprietary training in our Reach, Teach, Reflect, and Release model, as well as exams on our material. They gain extensive knowledge of Executive Functioning and access to our growing database of over 375 of the most effective apps, tools and strategies. These resources are indexed according to specific Executive Function skills and can be applied to a variety of academic tasks.

  • Our coaches also engage in ongoing professional development, during which they fine tune their academic coaching strategies and their knowledge of the newest tools available to them.

  • Finally, our coaches are trained in an evidence-based model of behavior change whereby the coaches learn to identify a student’s mindset. Once a coach understands a student’s mindset, the coach is better able to apply those tools and techniques that are tailored specifically to the individual's identified needs and that are geared toward the person's long-term success and independence.

Meet our staff Executive Function Consultants

Helping families and coaches navigate challenges throughout their coaching journey

Karl Apelgren

For over 15 years, Karl has served as an educator, counselor, and administrator in the education and youth development fields. 

Marissa Edwards

Marissa Edwards, Ph.D is a therapist and mental health consultant, focusing on the connection of mental, physical, and behavioral health improvement.

Cassandra Estey

Cassandra Estey, MS, is an Access Navigator/Academic Coach at Quinsigamond Community College with over 15 years of experience.

Diane Hawley

As a People and Culture Specialist, she is looking forward to building relationships and improving the culture of our diverse BBS community by promoting BBS core values and Coach satisfaction.

Vin Kachurik

With a Master of Fine Arts degree from Kent State University, Vin specializes in writing skills and self-advocacy.

 

Christine Kellar

Christine has taught in public schools and mentored at-risk youth, as well as led Learning & Development teams in the corporate world

 

Mariam Mahmoud

As an Executive Function Consultant and Coach, she works with clients and coaches of all ages, giving them the support they need.

Amy McDuffie
Amy is a former Behavior Specialist and Special Education Teacher, with expertise in supporting clients with ADHD, ASD, learning disabilities and anxiety.

 

Heather Tuller

As an Executive Function Consultant focusing on People and Culture, Heather supports a company culture that values a commitment to our customers, openness, kindness, integrity, courage, and Executive Function fandom.

Lisa Wickenheiser

Lisa brings years of experience teaching, supervising, and evaluating in public, private, online, and homeschool settings to her role.


 

We employ 300+ coaches across the United States. Meet our featured coaches:

Junerose Juan, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a coach and Speech-Language Pathologist with experience working with students to improve functional skills for everyday life. She specializes in facilitating these achievements by helping students understand how planning and organization affect daily tasks, reflecting on what life balance means for them, and gaining insight into their strengths and challenges. After graduating with a degree in Speech-Language Pathology, Junerose went on to complete a clinical research fellowship at the Madison VA Geriatric Research, Educational, and Clinical Center where she applied her therapeutic executive function skill set to her team as they submitted proposals, worked in the clinic and prepared manuscripts. This validated her belief that executive function skills are critical all throughout one’s lifespan and that students building these skills are at the start of that lifelong success. This, combined with the vast repertoire of tools and strategies provided through our training and ongoing professional development within Beyond BookSmart equips Junerose to successfully coach students with a variety of learning needs.

Junerose Juan - MS CCC-LP

We employ 300+ coaches across the United States. Meet our featured coaches:

Kaman Hung, D.HSc. Ed.S., M.Ed. M.S. is a coach and certified teacher with over a decade of teaching and coaching experience in both academic and non-academic settings. Dr. Hung specializes in helping individuals achieve their goals by developing their growth mindsets, organizational and study habits, and will work to prioritize goals and systematically target gaps in productivity, and foster an environment that will help his clients succeed. He is guided by the belief that positive habits cannot be learned until negative habits are unlearned. Kaman holds a Doctorate in Health Science (D.HSc) in Leadership and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Exercise Science from California University of Pennsylvania; a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Technology from Lamar University; a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) from Arkansas State University; a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Experiential Learning; and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a dual major in Education and Communication from Kean University. Kaman has expertise in supporting individuals with diverse executive function challenges, as well as a deep understanding of the evidence-based methodology of behavior change.

Kaman Hung, D.HSc. Ed.S., M.Ed. M.S.

We employ 300+ coaches across the United States. Meet our featured coaches:

Brittany Peterson is a college writing instructor, certified writing tutor, and senior executive function coach at Beyond BookSmart. She began her career in education at Quinnipiac University earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Masters degree in Secondary Education. Brittany earned a second Masters degree in Composition and Rhetoric at the University of Massachusetts Boston. After graduating, she became a full-time lecturer at UMass Boston where she currently serves as the Assistant Director of Composition and teaches first-year composition to a diverse classroom culture including English Language Learners and nontraditional students from a variety of academic backgrounds. Brittany's experience with adult learners, diverse cultures, and a range of learning abilities has enabled her to become a flexible educator who is sensitive to individual learning needs and intrinsically invested in their educational success.

Brittany Peterson

The Value of 1:1 Coaching

The ability to work 1:1 with your child is an essential element of coaching, so we make sure that our coaches have the interpersonal skills necessary to be successful with your child. By working with your child online, coaches are able to meet virtually and safely with students in their own workspace where they work most comfortably, and engage with them effectively.

Unlike parents and teachers, our coaches don’t assign grades or consequences based on a student’s behavior. Students value this unique relationship which allows them to connect with their coaches, who remain supportive and empathetic to the child’s mindset and circumstances. We provide this support online for flexibility in scheduling.

Our Results